Direct election of mayor
I would like to see the mayor continue to be elected by councillors, not by direct ballot.
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As a local journalist, I regularly attended meetings of a number of councils for over 20 years, and the most dysfunctional ones had mayors who were elected by the voting public.
It's a basic principle of running a meeting that the person in the chair has to have the respect of those on the floor. The surest way to achieve this is to have them elect the chair. Or mayor. If the mayor is someone who is thrust onto them by a separate election, someone who may not even have had any council experience, there's a high chance that dissatisfaction will arise.
And apart from the actual running of meetings, councillors need to see that the mayor is one of them, not a separate outsider. It's probably also important that a councillor can feel that there's a fair chance that he/she could be the mayor one day, and there's much more chance of that if you can work your way into the position by a few years of solid work for the community that earns the respect of your fellow councillors.
Of course individual councillors will have a gripe about the mayor from time to time. Well, hey, that's what democracy is, guys: the choice of the majority. Wait until the next September and have a go at voting him/her out.
Margaret Hurle, Manilla
Active travel strategy
Congratulations to Tamworth Regional Council for proposing an ambitious active travel strategy (TRC draft active transport plan to make city a walking, cycling mecca, 1/5/21). Every dollar spent on walking and cycling infrastructure will be more than returned to us in the form of better health outcomes as a result of increased physical activity and more opportunities for social interaction. Active travel also reduces carbon emissions and delivers economic benefits resulting from decongestion. Council is inviting community feedback on their draft strategy until 18 May.
Penny Milson, Tamworth
Kable Avenue Carpark Sale
It is unfortunate that council has been unable to attract a suitable offer from a potential developer of the CBD council staff car park.
The carpark is a blight on what is a prime streetscape for the city.
The site is of no immediate use to the community and its value would be better realised in the form of cash to spend on more practical assets.
Councillor Rodda et al seem to be unaware that this is how urban renewal works.
For instance, we would not have the Tamworth Regional Playground without the sale of the under-utilised Prince of Wales Park to a developer.
Andrew Swane, Kingswood
Calala Lane intersection
For many years there has been discussion about opening Campbell Road to King George Avenue.
If this was done, there would be a dramatic decrease of traffic entering Calala Lane.
At a later date an opportunity may open to put a bridge across the Peel River to Armidale Road.
Bladen Brooke OAM.
Victory in Europe (VE) Day
The 8th of May marks Victory in Europe (VE) Day, an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all who served during the Second World War in defence of our nation in Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
On 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced that Australia was at war. This began five years and eight months of Australian involvement in fighting in the European theatre and on 7 May 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender on all fronts, ending the conflict in Europe.
The following day, 8 May 1945, the day the surrender came into effect was declared VE Day. Australians, including recently released prisoners of war, began to return home. Although celebrations were buoyant overseas, in Australia they were more subdued as the war against Japan continued with no end yet in sight.
Almost one million Australians served in the Second World War. In the war against Germany and her European allies, some 10,000 died, around 10,000 were wounded and almost 8,000 became prisoners of war.
This Saturday we remember the courage shown by our service men and women throughout the war in Europe. Lest we forget.
More information about VE Day is available at the Department of Veterans' Affairs Anzac Portal, along with a range of educational resources.
Darren Chester
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Liverpool Plains
On the balance I support the State Government buyback of the exploration licence of the proposed Watermark mine on the Liverpool Plains, which will now see the Liverpool Plains region continue to be a powerhouse food bowl for New South Wales and Australia, it will continue to provide quality produce for meatworks and butcheries, for supermarkets and premium product wholesalers.
By also buying back the licence we will see the underground water systems and fertile black soil plains protected so crops can continue be grown, and as this place is so special it can grow a summer and winter crop and keep food security all year round for the nation.
Well done to the NSW Coalition State Government on buying back the licence and protecting the Liverpool Plains, Australia's true foodbowl.
Shane Moran, Tamworth
Tamworth University
Tamworth for it to remain a competitive and growing Rural City relies on productive industries and a University for the future.
It seems there is perhaps an impasse of federal funding and should there be no commitment of further funding of the ten million dollars in the Federal Budget next week, I would like to suggest an alternative solution which may break the impasse.
It involves all three tiers of government and the private sector entering into a public-private partnership funding model similar to what is used for large scale infrastructure projects and this way it will spread the risk and in many people's mind the benefits of having a University in Tamworth outweigh the overall risk of the funding.
We need to upgrade the skills of the workforce in Tamworth and give people a reason to stay here and get the education the want and contribute to our community, our private sector needs qualified people and good paying jobs are on offer if Tamworth gets a University campus.
I would urge those behind wanting a University campus and those in local, state and federal government to look at a public-private partnership to get this opportunity started.
Shane Moran, Tamworth
Outbreaks in aged care
Whiddon Moree recently experienced an outbreak of rhinovirus, which is the most common cause of the common cold. I thank our residents and families who we worked closely with to help protect residents, families, employees and community members from the potential spread of infection.
I want to reassure the community that when an outbreak occurs in an aged care setting, we work closely with the local public health unit and follow their advice, which may include the need for us to limit activity in and out of the home, as was the case with this outbreak.
I also want to reassure the community that during outbreaks, residents may need to isolate if they are affected by an infection or illness, but are never 'locked' in their rooms. Our teams support them to stay connected to their loved ones at that time.
We have had feedback that it must be easier to 'lockdown' our care home in an outbreak. This not the case. Limiting movement in the care home is essential in limiting the spread of infection and is part of the outbreak management process. We actually require more employees to be on duty. At all times, the wellbeing of our residents is paramount and our teams work together to ensure our residents are well cared for.
At any time, if community members have any questions about our care home, or aged care, we'd love to welcome you to visit and talk with us.
Martha Rowe, Moree
Climate challenges
Many Australian's will have been extremely disappointed because of the lack of commitment in relation to some core matters, concerning climate change, expressed by our Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Biden initiated Summit held recently.
The lack of precise commitments in relation to climate change that have been forthcoming from our Prime Minister have been evident for some time.
The lack of commitment in relation to climate change does inevitably lead many Australian's to doubt whether our Prime Minister accepts, to a reasonable degree, the science of climate change.
This is a matter of considerable concern.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank, South Australia