If Mr Moss were to visit Woden Town Centre in a more open frame of mind, he would acknowledge that residential development has been proceeding apace over the past decade. There are intensively developed town houses and apartments to the east and west, and soon, to the north of the town centre. The clubs, the cinema and at least some of the restaurants are thriving.

The problems of the north-western part of the town centre proper relate to a difficult and constricted site, a lack of coherent planning, and (as Peake's other informants observe) the lack of suitable office space in this area. For years, Woden Valley Community Council has called for a revitalised master plan for the town centre. Hopefully, this will be forthcoming soon. We cannot, surely, be blamed for the office-space issues.

The council has voiced concern about inappropriate high-rise. The brutal contours of SkyPlaza showed the development industry what not to do. The proposed residential blocks on Woden 9 were opposed because they were poorly thought through and inappropriate for the site. After discussions with planners, the Land Development Agency withdrew the associated development applications.

If Rodney wants to make comparisons with Belconnen, he should consider the following. Unlike Belconnen Town Centre, Woden Town Centre has no community centre, no arts centre, no modernised bus interchange, and no lake. Political concern is difficult to attract. Neither Zed Seselja nor Katy Gallagher has shown much interest in the movement of federal departments out of the town centre. Perhaps because Woden Valley straddles two electorates, ACT Labor seems largely indifferent to the town centre.

The burghers of Woden will be looking to changed electoral arrangements from 2016 to attract more ACT government interest to our part of Canberra.

Dr Jenny Stewart, former chairwoman, Woden Valley Community Council

It is disappointing to find a well-educated professional like Rodney Moss making ageist statements about people who do not share his opinion. It has been my experience over the years that people cope with change differently and age has nothing to do with it. It has also been my experience that: tall buildings shed long shadows that make the surrounding area gloomy, especially on a dull day; the Altitude buildings in Belconnen on a frosty morning make the footpath icy and slippery; too many tall buildings block out the sky giving a closed-in feeling; from the lakeshore, tall buildings block the view of the hills and ridges to the south of Belconnen; waiting at a bus stop in the shadow of a tall building in winter is cold and unpleasant.

Densification across Canberra is creating extensive areas of concrete and other hard surfaces with no room for greenery. Architects' impressions on new developments show tiny trees that look cute but will provide little useful shade in summer. Deciduous trees will look pretty in spring, summer and autumn, but exacerbate the gloominess of a dull winter day, with no leaves, giving the appearance of being dead.

Moss repeats the mantra that densification in town centres will protect the suburbs. He does not say for how long the suburbs will be retained. With continual population growth, how long will it be before densification principles are extended further into the suburbs?

Robyn Coghlan, Hawker

Barrister Steven Whybrow (Letters, July 10) says the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, instead of acting dispassionately and objectively, is adopting a "win-at-all-costs approach" in prosecuting cases, pursuing them "with a vigour bordering on zealotry".

I wonder if he has in mind the DPP's decision to try David Eastman a second time, 20 years after the first attempt, and after Eastman has been in jail for 19 years. Such a decision would seem to be based on legal ambition, rather than common sense. What on earth is to be gained from it, other than a bonanza for lawyers?

R.S.Gilbert, Braddon

Headlines and polls can be deceptive and we should take care what our pollies are actually saying ("Government poll vindicates roo cull, says Rattenbury", July 9, p5).

This year, the ACT government planned to cull 2466 kangaroos in the Canberra nature park. However, the shooters could only find 1689 kangaroos to kill and the shooting was stopped three weeks early. Last year, there was a shortfall, too. But the TAMS website claims kangaroos are "exceptionally abundant" in our area and the government and senior public servants have been telling us we have too many.

So what's happening? Could it be that the ACT government has knowingly overestimated the numbers of kangaroo in the first place?

According to the ACT government's Micromex Research poll results ("Government poll vindicates roo cull, says Rattenbury", July9, p5), which analysed the views of just 603 people, most of us think it important to see kangaroos in the Canberra nature park – and it is a goal of the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan to maintain a sustainable population of kangaroos. So, how does killing off every last one of them help to achieve this?

When it comes to kangaroo management, the ACT government has lost its way. Misinformation and spin seem to be the order of the day, rather than basic scientific research and reporting, as well as some common sense. I really don't think the government, and Mr Rattenbury, can claim to be vindicated by misrepresenting limited poll results. All they have done is to confirm their propaganda is working.

Philip Machin, Wamboin, NSW

So, Professor Steve Garlick, at no charge, mind you, is assisting the ACT by dealing with the acute psychological distress of some joeys (Letters, July 13).

Oh please, does Professor Garlick imagine he is living in Waratah National Park with a magical talking kangaroo. Somebody needs psychological help here and they cannot hop.

T.J.Farqahar, Ainslie

Oliver Brown ("Kyrgios: a pantomime rebel without a cause", Times2, July10, p5) and a lot of us are asking Nick Kyrgios, a very talented tennis player of tender years, to behave as a mature adult. Brown is also complaining that Nick hasn't achieved the seven tennis majors that John McEnroe did.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the No 1 and 2 players currently, had not won major titles at age 20.

Oliver – and the media generally – has have no idea of what it is to be Kyrgios. Let him mature, as we all do sooner or later. If he doesn't ever win a major, he is still a very good tennis player and deserves a little respect.

Tad Dufelmeier, Gordon

Oliver Brown must have rocks in his head if he thinks tennis antics trump racism. He dismisses Kyrgios' objection to Dawn Fraser's ugly words as "missing the point". No, Mr Brown, in an era of unparalleled ultra-nationalist bullying, Fraser shifted the focus from sporting trivia to the centre of Australian politics.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

Femme fatale, Emma Bovary ("The undoing of a femme fatale", Panorama, July11, p22)? Non! In Gustave Flaubert's 1856 novel depicting provincial life in Normandy, Charles' wife, has a highly romanticised view of the world and craves beauty, wealth, passion and high society. This desire leads her to extramarital love affairs and her suicide.

The men and the ending in the story are the only ones that are fatal, causing her death. Pauvre Madame Bovary is only an adulterous wife, living a "perpetual orgy" (as described by a Peruvian novelist who examined Flaubert's novel as the first modern novel), not an irresistibly attractive woman who can push men into disastrous situations. She is the one who takes the arsenic.

Noelle Roux, Chifley

I am a socialist and despise Tony Abbott and his right-wing government. However, on this issue I agree with him. It is indisputable that wind farms destroy beautiful landscapes.

Question: How much is a beautiful landscape worth? Answer: It is priceless. Wind farms the world over have destroyed hundreds of beautiful landscapes. Recently the argument has been put that coal mines and power stations are much uglier. This may be the case but it is a nonsense and largely irrelevant argument. The issue is the visibility and quantum of wind farms.

I have travelled the world and I have never seen a coal mine or a power station, but I have seen thousands of wind turbines destroying hundreds of beautiful landscapes. If beautiful landscapes are to be valued then wind farms must go. If people do not value beautiful landscapes then they can be plonked anywhere.

Of course this is exactly what will happen if the inexorable march of wind farms around the world is not stopped. Destroy the wind farms not the beautiful landscapes. Landscape lovers unite.

Peter Nielsen, Calwell

Is it ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, pigheadedness or some other factor, of which I am not aware, that drives the Prime Minister in his unrelenting attacks on renewable energy? In a world where coal is falling out of favour because of its environmental impact, Mr Abbott champions its cause. Australia once led the world in renewable energy technology, now the domestic industry is reeling as the technology leaves the country to benefit overseas economies.

An industry that had the potential to lead Australia into a bright and prosperous future, seemingly sabotaged by the Abbott government for no apparent reason other than to protect the vested interests of the coal and allied industries. The Prime Minister could be written off as a harmless eccentric if it were not for the fact he holds our future and that of our children and grandchildren in his hands.

S.E.Ramsay, Mawson

The latest directive to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to stop financing windpower and small solar projects [calls into] question federal government's ability to govern on our behalf. It is completely out of touch with reality on climate change matters, and should heed the recent Dutch legal judgment forcing its government to act on the science of climate change.

Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey's opinions on the aesthetics of wind turbines are invalid and should carry no weight in this discussion. Our federal government has lost its credibility. It is running backwards into the future with no thought for our children's future. It has lost the right to govern and should resign. NOW is our last chance to get the future right.

Derek F.Wrigley, Mawson

Mark Hartmann (Letters, July 6) is not alone! A spear of destiny seems to be the driving force behind government policy in Australia now. This diabolical weapon quivers a credo like a surgeon's scalpel in a serious case of intended malpractice. Thus the jackboot lance stamps fear, distrust, deception and brutal policy – such as national security and citizenship not to mention the persecution of the ABC – across the face of a country once described as relaxed and comfortable.

Victoria Lilley, Monash

The ABC has been accused of poor judgment and now there is to be an inquiry ("Fairness of Q&A's Jones to be probed in review", July 10, p2). What about Minister Steve Ciobo's response and his poor judgment? The panellists appearing on Q&A usually have some idea about the questions beforehand (hence the obfuscation by politicians when they respond) and Ciobo was intentionally provocative in his response. A wiser man would have deflected the question; instead Ciobo appeared to use his position to provoke Mallah. I hope this comes up in Martin's inquiry.

Anton Dennis, O'Connor

Patrick O'Hara (Letters, July 10 ) apparently does not read the Editor's comments at the bottom of the letters page saying that "The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts". I suggest that if he wants more information on the Greek crisis he reads the article "The law takes a holiday in Lemnos" (BusinessDay, July 10, p14) or perhaps look at what the straight-talking Nigel Farage had to say to the European Parliament just the other day. Incidentally, O'Hara might be interested to know that I also felt that Ireland should have not joined the European Union and gave my reasons at a talk on the Irish economy held in the Senate Hearing rooms and at the Irish Club in Canberra.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Gillian Triggs ("Parliament has 'failed' same-sex leadership", July 11, p7) has got it badly wrong. Parliament has not failed the people at all, just Gillian Triggs' agenda. As we know, legislation changes when the people's representatives vote to change the law.

The Marriage Act 1961 was amended to insert a definition of marriage and passed by both major parties in 2004. In 2012, the parliament agreed to MP Adam Bandt's motion to seek the views of electors about changing this definition. Most MPs indicated that their electors were opposed to changing the definition. Over two-thirds of the lower house MPs continue to reflect this view of their electors. This is democracy. The social media may be impatient for change but I suggest they are out of touch with the silent majority!

The poll supporting change gets lower by the day. Only 38percent voted in Ireland. The US Supreme Court overruled state democratic voting - hardly democratic. Only 19 out of 193 countries have approved SSM. After 10 years of SSM in Canada only 30percent of SS couples have married. SS couples make up only 0.8percent of all couples in Canada (0.07percent in Australia).

To say nothing of a public official advocating for legislative change. As the speaker of the House said recently, Triggs needs to resign to become a political player.

Paul Monagle, Forrest

COAL'S MAIN MAN

Not content with approving a huge coal mine in the middle of prime agricultural land, Tony Abbott now wants to also eliminate wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. The coal industry should obviously be paying him a retainer.

Nick Payne, Griffith

GOVERNMENT LARGESSE

Perhaps the Abbott government could replace the coal and wind power subsidies with a subsidy for coal heaters and stoves. It's not as if the coal industry gets enough of a free kick already.

Peter Edsor, Bungendore, NSW

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Could those (rightly) condemning Bill Shorten about his past conflicts of interest please explain how this is different from a government accepting donations from a mining company while legislating on mining, or setting mining permit conditions – say Shenhua in the Liverpool Plains?

Trevor McPherson, Aranda

ABORIGINES HARASSED

The police targeting of young working-class men, highlighted by Suzanne Wine (Letters, July10), is equally applicable to Aboriginal people, who are not only targeted, but frequently harassed to the point where a negative response is elicited and a charge can be laid, one of the reasons Aboriginal males, in particular, are so over-represented in our prisons.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

PROTECTING CYCLISTS

If we'd spent as much money on our off-road cycle-path network as we have on Canberra's on-road facilities, perhaps we would not have a report that cycling is a safety concern ("Cycling safety concern despite investment", July10, p5).

Greg Baker, Giralang

PRISON PROGRAMS

How does the ACT government reconcile the conflict between two of its Alexander Maconochie Centre proposed programs: the banning of smoking and the needle exchange?

Ed Dobson, Hughes

RARE, NOT UNIQUE

"The car is very unique and only one of 500 ever made ..." ("Driveway thieves add Porsche to collection", July11, p1). Not. How about uncommon?

Fred Barnes, Bruce

INTIMIDATION BY JEEP

Jeep drivers are the new Volvo drivers on steroids – they think they are invincible, can tailgate cars because they are bigger and higher, have no idea how big their car is, and they speed.

Adrian Smith, Yarralumla

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