Firstly, let us consider the decision not to renew the contract with Challenge to provide staff for the recycling facility at the Waste Management Centre. We have been told that the Waste Management Centre is the envy of most local government areas in the country.

I have certainly impressed by the efficiency and layout of the operations and the courtesy of the staff. An integral part of the operation has been sorting and recycling the contents of the yellow bins. For many years this work has been undertaken by a team of workers provided by the Challenge Foundation.

The operation has provided employment for over thirty special members of our community. I am astounded that the agreement between Council and Challenge has been terminated, not because of the quality of the work but over a few dollars of our money. The lives of 35 of our most vulnerable citizens and their carers have been thrown into turmoil by this decision and the waste material is being trucked to Sydney for sorting.

On a happier note I applaud Council's decision not to go ahead with plans to build a weir on the Peel. Such a weir would not add to the amount of water available to the city. Yet it was suggested by some that a weir would improve the look of the city, making it look more like Dubbo or Wagga. Tamworth's very attractive Logo emphasises the fact that it lies in the shadow of a beautiful mountain range. A fresh, bubbling stream is a far more appropriate feature for the heart of our city than an almost stagnant pond behind an expensive weir.

Brian Sullivan, Tamworth

Again another day goes by without an explanation from Tamworth Regional Council as to the recycle problem confronting our fair city. This council is renowned for doing things and then letting the public know after the fact (The Fitzroy Mall, the Guitar shaped building, Paradise picnic thing and the well-liked, almost an icon, Velodrome Mk 1.

Well Russell Webb, you are correct in that council as usual has not given any explanation to this diabolical situation. All the comments on Facebook could have been a lot less if council had given a satisfactory explanation from the start. Maybe they just like getting up people's noses. How hard is it to release a timely press statement even if it's not quite the truth.

Chris Harris, Calala

I refer to the article regarding the proposed Dungowan dam upgrade titled "bureaucracy at heart of blowout", sadly the same government would laud reports by the Productivity Commission if they justified the government not doing something, cutting something or privatising something. It's a little disingenuous to attack those "bureaucrats" now that they suggest something contrary to the NSW and Commonwealth Government's plans.

Even for $480 million it is difficult for many to grasp the fiscal brio of constructing a dam that will contain just 22.5 gigalitres of water when you compare the cost of augmenting Chaffey Dam to 100 gigalitres from 62 for $53 million.

The issue though is that the Dungowan and Peel Valley's are fully allocated, who misses out besides the environment if a new Dungowan dam is constructed and who pays for it when the principles of full cost recovery are applied - WE DO and pay for it we certainly will.

Reverse back to dryer times and October 2019 a panicked State government announced a new Dungowan dam because the complaints from residents over the mismanagement of Chaffey dam grew louder in our region region, the government didn't care how much it cost they had to appear to be addressing our water woes.

Now the government refuses to accept the advice of professional bureaucrats who would honestly advise the government that a new Dungowan dam IS NOT viable, but evidently won't they won't let them do their jobs effectively.

Remember the Productivity Commission warned that this damn proposal could exceed $870 million and yet both the NSW and Commonwealth governments are run by parties that claim to be superior in terms of fiscal management of our finances. If they do actually construct a new Dungowan dam wait until they pass on the cost to Tamworth city, Kootingal and Moonbi residents.

What we actually need is better management of what we already have in Chaffey dam, but that requires a bit more honesty, transparency and accountability than the incumbent governments are willing to provide.

Mark Rodda, South Tamworth

The greatest honour an Olympic competitor can have is to stand on the winner's platform as their countries national anthem blasts out, unless of course they are Russian.

Russia has been banned and thus can't compete unless they become citizens of another country and some actually are dual citizens or they compete under the title of Russian Olympic Committee, as a representative of the Olympic committee itself. This is not right nor fair.

Judas sold his soul for thirty pieces, but these competitors are hoping for a golden reward although at what cost. They are effectively selling out their own country and the spirit of the Olympics.

There is so much to worry about in sport with gambling, cheating and drugs that an officially sanctioned cheating method should never be allowed. Stay home and fix your country's sporting system.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

Assessments coming from many overseas countries and organizations regarding Australia's contribution to dealing with human induced climate change are far from complimentary. Some assessments are, in fact, quite embarrassing.

It is now time for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to show by action, and not just by well chosen words, that he is totally serious about countering climate change.

Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank, South Australia

I am not surprised, but I am still so disappointed in the Morrison/Joyce Government for rejecting the 'Climate Change Bill'. I am sick and tired of this government defending fossil fuel industries to 'preserve jobs and economic growth'.

This is no longer an excuse - it's purely a debating tool. Don't be fooled into thinking that the Government doesn't know that climate change is real and is a threat.

The Australian Government's 'Bureau of Meteorology' for your weather updates, type 'climate change' into their search bar and you'll find climate change statistics. Building a new home?

See the Government's website 'Your Home - Australia's guide to Environmentally Sustainable Homes' stating: 'as energy and water costs increase, along with community awareness of climate change and the need to protect our environment, Your Home has become even more relevant.'

These are Australian Government websites. The Royal Commission into the 2019/2020 Summer Bushfires states; 'Extreme weather has already become more frequent and intense because of climate change; further global warming over the next 20-30 years is inevitable. Floods and bushfires will become more frequent and more intense.'

Then there's Scotty's excuse of Australia only contributing to 1.1 per cent of emissions when in fact Australia has one of the highest emissions per capita globally with an average per capita footprint of 17 tonnes. This is more than 3 times higher than the global average which is 4.8 tonnes per person. The Governments politicisation of climate change and overall inaction is pure neglect on our nation.

Eliza Weekes, Moore Creek

Daniel Peckham of Tamworth doesn't seem to understand the difference between climate and weather: weather is what we get every day: sometimes it's hot and sometimes it's cold.

Sometimes it's hotter than average, and sometimes, though more rarely these days, it's colder than average.

Climate on the other hand is about long term averages, and what I can tell David is that the trend in the world is to warmer temperatures - the warmest 20 years since 1880 have all occurred since 1990.

So, yes some days are cold and some are warm, but the data tells us that long term, the world is heating up.

Joan Selby Smith, Melbourne

Yesterday I was charged $330 for a repair of a tail light on my trailer. I was disappointed to find Tamworth has no fair trading office. A city of Tamworth's size is in dire need of same as there is nowhere else to turn to if you are a senior person.

Russell Murray, Tamworth