Colin Macpherson, South Tamworth

I was sad but not surprised to hear that the Target stores in the country will close. When we came to Tamworth the Grace Bros shop was operating in this building and we always regarded it as a great place to shop. Since GBs left the quality in that shop has declined and with online shopping closure of these major chains appear inevitable.

Graeme Reeves, Calala

I refer to The Northern Daily Leader's story titled "Water-sharing plans: Motion calls on Water Minister Melinda Pavey to use up-to-date drought data in the next decade's plants: Tamworth Regional Council and MP Kevin Anderson have meeting on Peel, Upper and Lower Namoi Plans", Wednesday 20/05/2020. Despite being ruled by the party that purports to be "for regional NSW" for the last 9 years, we are stuck with their poor water decisions and lack thereof, that are openly detrimental to the future of the Tamworth region.

No one in the Tamworth region wants the ongoing problems associated with annual water restrictions let alone the most serious restriction Level 5, but that is exactly what the NSW Coalition government is delivering the residents here through poor management. The uncertainty and concern about a reliable water supply, for residents, businesses and industries which must feature highly in the minds of some about their future in our region, particularly when making strategic decisions about their future. At risk are jobs, population decline and lower property values and all the other economic negatives.

I find it amazing, like many, that state legislation was deliberately amended to exclude the millennium drought when making calculations about how much water should be held in reserve for communities. Further amazement that the impacts of the most recent "unprecedented drought" has not also been included. The former Water Minister and former Member for Barwon in 2014 provided clues at the start of his Water Management Amendment Act, 2014, 2nd Reading speech about just who benefits from National party legislative decisions (https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/772/2R%20Water.pdf).

Personally, I don't believe that the state-wide Water Sharing Plans are the ogre. The ogre is state government mismanagement, a refusal to acknowledge past mistakes including over-allocations and a desire to ensure they don't happen again. The big mistake in our region is that in two water years 2017/18 and 2018/19 during unpreceded drought, no rain, no inflows, around 34 per cent of Chaffey Dam water left the Peel River as an "end of system, environmental flow" but as soon as it entered the Namoi River it was a marketable commodity. Now for Tamworth region residents any additional water infrastructure provided by State or Commonwealth will be paid for by the ratepayers, be it the pipeline or new Dungowan Dam when the principles of "full cost recovery" are factored in, thanks to Chaffey Dam's mismanagement.

Some NSW residents are calling for donation reform for political parties with election donation information promulgated in real time, The Nationals have rejected this proposal. The State Member for Murray Helen Dalton and her colleagues would like a state register of politicians' water interests because they believe like I do, nothing disinfects like sunlight, The Nationals have rejected this worthwhile proposal. A Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, not a chance thanks to The Nationals. Prior to leaving state parliament former premier Mike Baird emasculated the Independent Commission Against Corruption which has also since been defunded, it was supported by The Nationals; that is your local state MP supports this veil of secrecy over your natural resources.

I find it galling that when it comes to water, rural residents don't seem to count. No water certainty, no transparency and no accountability from that once great rural party. Sadly, I fear that the participants in these ongoing water discussions are far too chummy to deliver an outcome of added water security to the Tamworth district. The government has been the architect of mismanagement and their local government comrades here and elsewhere are keen to shield them from the scrutiny they deserve, and we should insist on. Someone must be accountable for the mismanagement and use of our precious natural resources because that is the edifice of our Westminster system of responsible government.

Mark Rodda, Tamworth

In response to Mr Daniel Peckham NDL May 19. I will lecture him.

Climate change is not an ideology. I find Mr Peckham's arguments neither mature nor rational, but sadly so child-like.

Logic is the science of reasoning. Proof. Human global warming began in the industrial revolution with the invention of the steam engine. The last designs of the Union Pacific big boys and Missabe irons in the 1940s to move freight for the needs of World War II. Reckoned by U.S. experts as about 5 per cent thermal efficiency, i.e. of every 100 tons of coal consumed, only 5 tons actually moved the locomotive, 95 tons warmed the atmosphere. Enter diesel-electric locomotives. About 25 per cent thermal efficiency. Five times more thermally efficient, notwithstanding 75 per cent of the thermal energy contained in the fuel is global warming.

This is why steam traction is not used on our railways. These are verified scientific facts and as Mr Peckham doesn't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, he tells a lie by definition of the courts of Australia.

Lindsay Bridge, Quirindi

Perhaps the savings of water through reduced transmission loss should be applied as a credit against the operation of the pipeline. I agree with user pays, however user benefits should also accrue. Paying for duplication of management is folly. Don't expect sense from IPART. It has already made Peel water the most expensive in the state, many times higher than southern parts of the state pay. If environmental flows are required for the whole of the MDB then costs should be shared, not just charged to individual storages.

Graeme Harris, Calala

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is being treated by the world's leading medical experts and being mistreated by the world's leading non-medical expert President Donald Trump. Surely the world should follow the advice of medical experts although in the social media environment we are being misled.

Donald Trump has apparently stated that he is taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a possible protection against coronavirus even though there are warning of possible serious, even fatal side effects. A proper FDA approved medical treatment is researched, tested and checked for side effects long before it is available on the shelves. This is a proper treatment for malaria but as of the moment there is no proof that it works for COVID-19 although some initial testing is being undertaken. Please do not trust the internet for medical advice unless it is an official site.

This is not even the worst Trump medical proclamation as that comes from his son Eric who is describing the Epidemic as a political smoke screen to prevent his father from campaigning in the manner that he considers the best approach, large crowds full of enthusiastic supporters. None of the 90,000 people who have already died will get to vote for Trump nor anyone else. Eric's suggestion that ... And guess what, after 3 November, coronavirus will magically...' is offensive and simply wrong. Again, listen to medical experts and not businessmen and never reality television personalities.

The is never enough ways to repeat the message - listen to medical experts not politicians and do have the vaccination when it becomes available.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

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