Consequently, I was very pleased when the Governor-General issued Letters Patent to establish a Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems of the Northern Territory and appointed the Hon Brian Ross Martin AO QC, a former Chief Justice of the Northern Territory, as Royal Commissioner.

It is important to note that the Royal Commission is independent from government and is responsible for determining its own processes, and is free to investigate any matter that falls within its Terms of Reference.

The Royal Commission is due to report by 31 March 2017.

Mark Coulton

Member for Parkes

In Saturday’s Leader, Councillor Webb said that you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that trees in the Peel River cause floods.

Unfortunately a rocket scientist wouldn't have much to say on the issue. You need a hydrologist and an ecologist.

Trees and floods are a complex issue. Trees and shrubs and dead wood in rivers slow down flows and raise the height of the water.

Slowing the water down means flood peaks take longer to move down the catchment and so are lower in height when they reach downstream.

In a flood, it is fast-moving water that causes erosion and property damage.

So, while trees will raise the height of a flood in the immediate area of the trees, they will reduce both the height and speed of the flood in the catchment as a whole.

Rather than planning to remove trees, Councillor Webb should be planting more trees in the rivers, creeks and floodplains upstream of Tamworth.

Land and Water Australia conducted extensive research into the issue and their research should guide any future actions taken by Tamworth Council.

David Carr

Armidale

Of the twelve options for the new Calala access road (presented to Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) councillors behind closed doors) only two have been chosen by the council for further assessment.

Both of the options go via the Armidale road, both requiring three expensive bridges and have floodplain problems.

This will be a huge financial burden on Tamworth Regional Council ratepayers in construction and maintenance.

There is a need for this extra access road for Calala, particularly due to the recently approved developments which will increase house lots in Calala by 50%. 

These lots are primarily at Calala Lane's proposed roundabout.

There is a road option that will deliver this new extra traffic to the Tamworth CBD direct from this proposed Calala Lane's roundabout, to Scott Road.

This option meets the needs of the new expanding Calala area, is a third the distance of the Armidale Road options and does not entail construction of the three expensive bridges and

Is mostly out of the floodplain. 

The cost to the ratepayer in construction and maintenance will be substantially less than the Armidale Road options.

We must, as ratepayers, ask why Tamworth Regional Council refuses to allow this option for further consideration.

Bob Murray

President Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Assn