Our incumbent member Mr Kevin Anderson announced a $53 million funding approval for a new hospital and funding for the sealing of Rangari - Manilla road and Grain Valley Way upgrading and sealing.

When asked whether they were in favour and if elected would they proceed with these projects they all answered yes.

I urge voters in the Tamworth Electorate not to be misguided by such blatant innuendos for as all those who value their vote know, they cannot deliver without first (if they belong to a party) ensure party support if they and their party are elected, and Independents have to be in a position as cross benchers to negotiate such promises.

With Kevin Anderson it has been ratified and approved to proceed The incumbent members record over the past 4 years speaks for itself : $62 million for new overhead bridge, $8 million for new police station, $5 million for Hoss's causeway, $850,000 for new playground at Wolsley Park, $1.8 million for showground upgrade to name a few. I hope all conscientious voters can see through somewhat idle promises and support a member who has the runs on the board. 

George Avard, Gunnedah

When are the Federal and State governments going to give inland NSW country towns serious consideration by approving funds for developing vital infrastructure, for rural towns? Luxury projects centred around the Sydney area for example, just re-enforce in rural residents' minds, we're thought of as "not that important". Every election produces predictable pathetic promises "... if we are voted in, we'll do ..." So here we go again.

Country towns generate and contribute collectively more tax revenue than the three big metropolitan cities and the ACT, so when's the "fair" distribution going to start? We heard again this month, Tamworth being a good area to relocate to ... what? With our critical lack of water and often repeated water restrictions. Could you imagine the ACT being in our "water predicament"? We all know that outcome. Funds would magically become available to remedy the dilemma.

Why are tax generated funds syphoned away from "food producing" areas and our towns' needs ignored at the big house? It seems as long as city folk can go to the supermarkets and buy their needs, the hardships farmers face to produce our food doesn't enter heads. Come on pollies fight for our rights. 

Y Hodge, Kootinal

The "crazed cattle dog" is apparently straining at his leash again, the same one that saw Barnaby Joyce by his own admission "wandering and getting closer to other women" and "when I was at home I was a lie and when in Canberra I was ashamed".

The same one that saw him publicly question the paternity of his son and is now seeing him not only campaigning against the Coalition Govt. but his own National Party Leader, by provocatively claiming that he (Barnaby) was "elected Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, so I would have no guilt at all in standing if there was a split and the position is vacant". Surely no-one can continue to take this man seriously. 

Jan Kleeman, Donald Creek

An important issue this election is how the candidates will address the Tamworth water crisis. I am concerned by the number of quick fix schemes being proposed to build dams and divert water inland to enable more growth. I find it perplexing that we are still focused on using more water, when we have the Murray Darling Basin crisis staring us in the face with the loudest of alarm bells. Environmental needs are going to increase as it gets hotter and drier, we can't add to the problem by capturing and using more water.

I was hoping to hear the candidates talking about how we need to use less water more wisely and what would be a sustainable population for Tamworth.

The elephant in the room is that Tamworth water use is already at its limit.

From the Peel irrigators' perspective Tamworth's water entitlement and security from Chaffey Dam already denies them the water they need to have a sustainable irrigation industry in the valley.

The quick fix solutions ignore science in favour of political gain, just like what has happened with the Murray Darling water management where economic benefit excluded the needs of the environment.

All the inland and coastal streams are under extreme stress from climate change, there is no such thing as surplus water to what the environment needs. Even a small increase of extraction will have an impact.

Farmers fully realise stocking densities have to be managed according to the carrying capacity of the land. Experience tells them that to avoid a crisis they must work within the limits of water and feed variability between seasons.

Planning development at a regional level is no different, except you can't offload homes and industries every time it gets dry, so restraining development within a sustainable limit of water use is critically important. The candidates should be telling the people we can't have more water, and instead be coming up with better ways of being more efficient with water use, recycling water, and making homes and industries more self-sufficient.

Phil Spark, Tamworth

I honestly believe there are many reasons why I cannot vote for Kevin Anderson in this election.

Under his watch, over his terms in government, I have seen him vote against more nurses for small rural hospitals, fail to speak out in regard of the way state water has farmers pay in advance for water they have little or no hope of safe supply, oversee the biggest fish kill in the Namoi and Keepit Dam in our history without word of protest to state water, also showed no backbone again when state water drained Keepit due to greed in allowing foreign coal whom paid three times its worth leaving the Namoi dry.

Thus showing how much of a yes man he is with no concern for the welfare of rural towns nor has he shown any concern in why no progress has been made by council in regard to the Manilla water treatment plant in 5 years as much of the grant had been received so what hope have we got if he is again elected.

David Davis, Manilla