Maybe if someone from Water NSW looked out the window past couple weeks most areas around Tamworth have received in excess of 150mm of rain which has put fresh into most creeks/rivers and flooding further downstream around Narrabri.

So why are Water NSW letting out water for environmental reasons when dam is still at 13 per cent, apparently around 30 gig was let out the other day while raining with forecast for more rain?? So when I'm back on my feet I will wash my car and water garden which will be within my 150 litre a day limit, so when council comes knocking on my door my response "it's for environmental reasons".

You are the Minister for Better Regulation - think it's time for Water NSW to be better regulated. Common sense is not common anymore!

Roy Young, Tamworth

How lucky are we to live in a wonderful town like Gunnedah with its fantastic pool complex - the envy of many other country towns!

Last weekend, the swimming club hosted two area championship carnivals, with heavenly rain falling most of the two days. Visitors were unperturbed, however, as they had plenty of room to raise marquees for shelter in the beautiful grounds and use the indoor pool for the swimmers to warm up and also keep their belongings dry.

The pool is also a very attractive area for families, with the water park increasing in popularity every week. To have the pool open at 5:30am for people who like to exercise early is a real treat, with the outdoor pool used by the swimming club and other keen swimmers unless it gets too cold or a storm is around - then they have the option of going indoors.

The indoor pool is also very popular with seniors and people needing rehabilitation after surgery. The ability to walk up and down the pool in gentle exercise while chatting with other pool patrons is not only good for the body, it is also good for the human spirit.

A hot shower after exercise and a short trip home by car is a real winner for older people and sets them up for a great day. The opportunity for children to have swimming lessons in any kind of weather is a real bonus and an essential life skill. The pool attendants are warm and friendly and very helpful and I commend them for their community spirit.

Thank you Gunnedah for your vision past and present, which has enabled our beautiful town to have such an amazing facilities.

Marie Hobson, Gunnedah

Daniel Peckham is certainly a warrior for the coal lobby ("Burning Coal", February 12/ "Climate Change", February 2 and 8). It's a shame he keeps rolling out the same arguments that have been on the hymn sheets for the Nationals ad nauseam - the lefties are blaming the conservatives for the climate disasters, climate change is a socialist plot, "dubious links" are being drawn between carbon emissions and recent "natural" disasters, the fossil fuel supporters are helping "Indians" burn coal rather than cow dung, and Australia's emissions are not enough to save the world. Crocodile tears packed in a cloak of repetitive hyperbole. Unfortunately Mr Peckham fails to mention any science, yet accuses climate activists of being short on scientific evidence.

As for the PM being blamed for the drought and bushfires, the reality is people are rightly angry with Mr Morrison for his Hawaiian holiday while the nation burnt, his failure to declare a State of Emergency early enough, and his bumbling when the victims were crying out for strong leadership, not more photo ops. And that's not to mention the band-aid grants he threw around on a daily basis that stressed victims found too complicated or disqualified them. All in all it was a disaster within a disaster.

Mr Peckham also accuses those who disagree with the government's lack of an effective climate policy of denying democracy. He needs to be reminded that we do not live in an autocracy, yet, and people are entitled to their view. As well a one seat majority does not a mandate make.

People are genuinely concerned about their children's futures. And they ask that those vested interests who promote fossil fuels pause for a moment and consider what our children's world will be like in 50-70 years time if the present disasters continue or increase. It cannot be pretty.

For those who may doubt the power of the Coal Lobby and the political involvement, I recommend a video on YouTube by an ex-Newscorp journalist, Michael West. It will open your eyes to the coal propaganda that exists. Bert Candy, Glenvale