She wants the NCA to 'step up and become a strong voice for local residents and the ACT government' whereas, in reality, the NCA needs strengthening precisely to be able to stand up to the ACT Government, whose relations with developers is increasingly being revealed as far too close and opaque.

Between them they are set on destroying the unique landscape character of Lake Burley Griffin. Not only are they proposing to ruin the special landscape qualities of the Lake foreshore but they are also encouraging and allowing the private acquisition of what has until now been public land – consult the plans for West Basin. For years the ACT Government has stymied proposals to put Canberra and its lake on the National Heritage List.

This listing has the backing of relevant federal, territory and independent agency experts and is surely appropriate given that the lake is so central to the visual character of the National Capital.

The NCA needs to act in the long-term interests of the nation not simply to enhance the short-term revenues of the ACT Government and the developers. That is why it is the National Capital Authority.

Andrew L. Schuller, Campbell

Let me add a comment to Peter Langhorne's comments about broken footpaths in Griffith and Narrabundah (letters, March 1).

I take regular morning runs in Griffith and last year made three separate reports of damaged footpaths to the ACT Government's 'Fix My Street' accesscanberra website ( and yes, I still have the website work order numbers).

The first report was in April 2016, the second in May and the third in June. Within several days of each report the damaged footpath was inspected and marked with white arrows showing exactly which parts of the concrete paving needed replacing.

However, as of March 2017 none of the marked footpaths have been repaired, and in one location the white arrows have now completely worn away.

Interestingly the damage in two cases was caused by cranes and concrete trucks used on new home constructions and the third set of damage was caused by the heavy trucks of ActewAGL contractors who were installing a new power pole.

So in all three cases those responsible for causing the damage should foot the bill rather than ratepayers.

There seems to be a failing somewhere in the system!

John R. Baker, Griffith

Of course the Commonwealth should pay the bulk of the cost of the national convention centre ("Convention centre shaky", Feb 28, p.1). And it should be on National Land, prominently sited in the Central National Area, near Civic, with lines of sight to and from Capital Hill and City Hill. Cultural facilities should be included, like a performing arts centre.

Acton Peninsula is the logical place for that complex, where associated hotel towers can replicate Griffin's planned building massing. Of course, the sadly ephemeral National Museum of Australia, and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies should have been built at, and now should go to Yarramundi Reach, as recommended by Australia's best experts in those fields, in an evocative "tract" format, allowing incremental growth over time.

The "commercial visibility" demanded for the museum can be achieved by close proximity to the National Arboretum.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Re your editorial ("Convention centre a dead duck", March 1, p.14). I found it intriguing Mr Barr observed that the Australian Forum was "not my top priority, it never has been"'.

There has been a lobby group demanding a new convention centre since before the 2005 $30m upgrade of the National Convention Centre. That's longer than the City to the Lake plan has existed.

The Forum is an afterthought tacked on to City to the Lake. The 2011, architect's drawing of the Forum showed a crystal palace on the foreshores of the lake.

That changed in 2015 with Massimiliano Fuksas's design planned for the head of Commonwealth Avenue.

There's always hope the City to the Lake plan could go the same way the Forum seems to be going. That's only on the shelf. Our town council will dust it off and trot it out again in a few years.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

Following the recent fires, WIN TV broadcast footage of a man with his son looking at the ruins of their home. The boy said: "We've lost the budgies".

I am writing on behalf of the Budgerigar Society of NSW Canberra Branch. I am trying to locate the child.

Our club would be very happy to provide him with some replacement budgies.

We would be happy to provide a couple of birds to go in a cage in the interim, and when he is able to once again establish an outside aviary, give him more birds.

If you can help us find him email me on rita.stuart@optusnet.com.au

Rita Corbett, BSNSW, Canberra Branch

Every year I send around 20 Christmas Cards to my family and friends in the UK.

I posted them all on December 2 at the local post box.

They all arrived okay around two weeks later, except one to my favourite sister, who I talk to each Monday on Skype.

Last week she thanked me for her card, which arrived on February 22.

It took around 87 days to get there.

That's snail mail towing a caravan.

Brian Harber, Dunlop

As a Catholic and also as a previous principal of Sts Peter and Paul Primary School, Garran, I'm annoyed and disgusted that the archbishop allowed a disgraced priest who inappropriately touched a child ("Investigated priest moved near schools", March 1, p.3) to reside so close to the school for over two years. This archbishop and the Catholic Church just don't get it, do they?

Doug Hodgson, Pearce

How ironic that at the same time John McKerral writes to complain about the high cost of renewable electricity (letters, February 25), the ACT government reveals renewable generation has been saving ACT residents money.

The wind and solar farms that are helping the ACT meet its renewable electricity target are paid a fixed price for their generation. This acts as a hedge against the volatility of the wholesale electricity market.

When the wholesale electricity price is low, the ACT tops up the revenue of the renewable generators, and when the wholesale electricity price is high, the renewable generators have to pay money back to the ACT.

Recently, wholesale electricity prices have been very high, driven by soaring gas prices and the recent heatwave. As a result, during a recent week the renewable generators had to refund $840,000 to the ACT.

Instead of complaining about renewables, perhaps McKerral should write letters to his NSW state government to suggest they should follow the ACT's lead and source more renewable electricity.

David Osmond, wind engineer, Dickson

Soren Hermansen, ("Island energises the world with wind power", February 27, p.13) made no effort to disclose how Samso managed when the wind did not blow at the correct velocity to produce sufficient electricity.

I wouldn't doubt that they are connected to the mainland grid and that is how they cover such occasions.

His claims of new jobs for the residents of the island ring untrue. Most would be for a relatively short period during the construction phase.

A farm community would not have the same power requirements as an industrial area and could ride out blackouts better.

I understand Denmark imports electricity, at a premium, from surrounding countries when the wind is insufficient.

However when the wind is just right they have too much electricity and must sell it cheaply or give it away, a lose-lose situation.

Wind farms require huge subsidies in order to function. His claims of income stream for residents seem odd. Once again it is the well offs doing well at the expense of those less well off, who can't afford such investments but must pay the elevated price for wind-generated electricity.

Also, remember Denmark is an exporter of wind turbines.

John McKerral, Batemans Bay

I refer to the recent discussion about pumped hydro and its (possible) use in Canberra.

Such electricity generation has been a part of the Snowy Mountain Scheme from its inception.

I recall discussions with the then NCDC engineers, when Lake Burley Griffin was being constructed, in the 1960s, about the possibility of such a scheme here involving the lake and a reservoir on Black Mountain.

The engineering advice was that the shallow depth of the lake (about 2 metres) and the turbidity of the water made the concept unviable.

I would be surprised if much has changed.

An alternative would be to turn off street lighting in the late evening whenever the system is under stress.

John E. Gorman, Belconnen

When commentators describe Abbott's proposed changes to Liberal Party policy as right wing I wonder why they include in that category his suggestion that immigration be reduced.

Other than being a socialist, protectionist and unionist, I regard myself as being of the far left because I am an environmentalist. And a true environmentalist should be lobbying for our population to be reduced to an ecologically sustainable level. This cannot be done if we continue to accept migrants.

There is a gutless silence on this matter by the misnamed Australian Greens who should be praising Abbott for wanting to decrease immigration and condemning him for his right wing proposals.

Nancy Tidfy, Chisholm

It is no surprise that Mr Abbott is trying his best to get rid of Mr Turnbull.

If he can secure Mr Dutton as PM by white-anting Turnbull, he will be assured of another place on the frontbench.

Problem is, Mr Dutton would take the government further to the right than it is now, foolishly ignoring Mr Howard's brief that the party must govern from the centre.

Mr Turnbull's dilemma is he is still trying to sell Mr Abbott's policies instead of his own.

Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South, NSW

The remarks by Ken Barrs (letters, March 1) about the problems in Defence, are spot on.

The clerical types started in the mid-1990s to dismantle the engineering expertise in the APS and to minimise the number of military engineers in Defence HQs.

I was there at the time.

Since then, Defence quickly deskilled its technical workforce to the point where, for many years now, it has not been a "Knowledgeable buyer".

Clerical bean-counters and contracts officers are no substitute for technicians when it comes to buying technical equipment.

The net result has been that not only have there been more consultants used, but "suppliers" now hold the whip hand on what Defence will actually get, at whatever price they demand, as often as not.

The secretary of Defence should also have a real hard look at the motivation of his APS staff, as to whether they are more interested in empire building and getting promoted than in the vital role of defence capability for the security of the nation.

M. Flint, Erindale

TURNBULL'S FOLLY

If there is one thing that epitomises Malcolm Turnbull's lack of leadership, it is his inability or unwillingness to stand up to Barnaby Joyce's idiotic and irrational decision to relocate the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority to Armidale. Herein lies the real reason for his poor polling.

Dan Buchler, Waramanga

A JOB FOR ABBOTT

Perhaps Andrew Barr could appoint Tony Abbott to succeed Brendan Smyth as Commissioner for International Engagement for the ACT when his term expires.

John Milne, Chapman

The "suppository of all wisdom" has a need to blow off steam occasionally. And the loose tools in the media are almost too willing to help spread the muck.

H.Styles, Kingston

Even blind Freddie can see that Abbott's aim, knowing he can never get to be PM again, is just to seek revenge on Turnbull.

Norman Lee, Weston

ENOUGH SAID

Re 18c, I am struggling to comprehend how any MP with a social media account could believe that we need to increase the scope for racist speech in Australia.

Tony Judge, Woolgoolga, NSW

LOOKS LIKE A JELLYFISH

The artist's impression of the proposed new $900m national convention centre (canberratimes.com.au, February 28) certainly impressed me. It looked like an impossibly humungous jellyfish beached on the shore of the lake. If it goes bad, it's sure gonna smell, very richly.

Ed Highley, Kambah

UNWORTHY SWIPE

Few of us love parking inspectors, but to describe them as "swaggering through Canberra's car parks ("Parking patrols ditch chalk in high-tech trial", March1, p2) is what we would expect of elements of the Murdoch press. It's depressing that The Canberra Times sees fit to follow down the same path.

Eric Hunter, Cook

CELIBACY DEFENCE

Ian MacNaught (Letters, February28) suggests celibacy is the cause of sexual abuse.

I have read that one in three girls and one in five boys are abused in the general community. Surely most of these offences are committed by people in relationships and not by celibates?

Why would it be different if clergy were married?

Eric French, Higgins

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