Cr Russell Webb said "it's the first development where industry and staff have sat down and tried to develop something for the future."

Does anyone see the missing factor? It's called the Tamworth ratepayers and residents!

I also note that council recently rejected the concept of a meeting register of council offices/councillors.

I make no allegations however it is very concerning that discussion takes place, the community is consulted and then behind door meetings result in vastly different outcomes to those put to the community.

Not good enough!

Such a major change should result in a restarting of the whole DA process.

I hope their traffic studies aren't like the Calala ones that always take place during school holidays or between 9 and 3 or 4.

Not good enough TRC and the majority of our elected council members.

Graeme Harris, Calala

John Rumble (comment 28/04/21) made the statement "BlueScope could have serious problems of its own, if it cannot obtain the necessary volume of coking coal from the local Dendrobium coal mine. It is imperative that the Dendrobium mine extension be approved."

John knows that the mine extension was denied because of the threat the mine poses to the drinking water supply of Sydney, he probably also knows that the mine owners have been given ample opportunity to address these concerns and are unable.

There is also the simple fact that the metallurgical coal produced by the mine is used both domestically as well as being exported. Perhaps it would be more of an imperative to maintain the supply to BlueScope and not send it overseas?

Nah, some radical thinkers believe that digging up coal to export is more important than water for our cities.

How alarming are the thought processes of the pro-mining lobby?

Andrew Brown, Nundle

I have seen in my life of near 33 years continued growth and development in New England and while I think that the Coalition federal government is a good solid government it still needs a few big names on the front bench.

One such name is the Member for New England former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, and we need policies to focus on Decentralisation, high level agricultural production, supporting small businesses and ensuring Rural Australia gets a fair share of the infrastructure budget.

It is my belief that Barnaby Joyce should return to the leadership of the Nationals and the Deputy Prime Ministership.

If you agree or not with Barnaby you have to admit you know where he stands and whilst that decision is entirely up to him on which to rule in or out a tilt at the Leadership and I as a constituent will respect any decision he makes, Rural Australians need a strong Coalition agreement that will benefit them as much as any Australian, Barnaby has been in the Coalition leadership team in the past and he can help create a stronger future by returning to the Deputy Prime Ministership.

I want to emphasise these are my views and as we begin our economic recovery post pandemic I want to see that Rural Australians are given every chance to succeed.

Shane Moran, Tamworth

Got an opinion you want to share? Have your say

The United States President Joe Biden, has advised countries such as Australia to step up and phase out coal by 2030.

Australia is a sovereign country, and we should not obliged to run down every rabbit hole the United States wishes to go.

We followed the United States into the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003, whose President then was right of centre.

The end result was a power vacuum and the establishment of Islamic State , which caused havoc in that region.

Now the United States has a left of centre ageing President who would be lucky to know what day it is.

Australia is a signatory to the Paris accord ,and we are fulfilling our obligations .

Joe Biden instead of preaching to other Countries ,he should be sorting out his own internal problems, such as the humanitarian crisis on the USA southern borders, where tens of thousands of migrants have been detained.

This catastrophe was his own making, as he was supporting an open door policy during the Presidential campaign.

John Rumble, Albion Park