The urban redevelopment of the ABC flats has stumbled from planning disaster to disaster. The original masterplan showed a maximum of 10 storeys which, after the extensive community consultation recommended eight storeys, got raised to 15storeys. This height survived 137 written appeals from the community but then the minister relented and cut it back to 12storeys.

I think this is called the ambit-claim tactic.

The development application for stage 1 is now out for comment (closes January 19) and continues the 12-storey height despite professional advice in the application itself that the design doesn't comply with fire regulations for the number of alternative fire exits, nor the access to these exits, for this height.

So why persist with a design that interposes this 12-storey monstrosity between the four-storey Canberra Centre, zero-storey Glebe Park, three-storey Argyle Square apartments, single-storey residences in heritage Braddon and the two-storey heritage Gorman House?

What was wrong with the consulted eight storeys? By building beyond eight storeys the entire building requires fire sprinklers, thus raising the cost of every apartment well beyond anything affordable.

The DA 201630648 should be withdrawn and the developer compelled to enter "meaningful, transparent, effective and ongoing public engagement".

Chris Emery, Reid

There will be some recriminations about trees being uprooted and branches falling after the ferocious windstorm on the afternoon of Friday, January 13.

Many of the trees would be eucalypts which have been widely planted over many years in Canberra.

The Eucalyptus mannifera due to be planted in Northbourne Avenue for the light rail system is foremost amongst the damaged species affected by the storm.

Its rapid growth and attractive bark makes it a favoured species but the spreading crown and numerous branch system cause problems in later years.

The native kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum) should be interplanted between these eucalypts as it is slower growing and can eventually be the main tree after the removal of the faster growing eucalypt at a later date.

The kurrajong is a very stable tree due to its deep tap root system and also does not shed bark like the eucalypt.

An added bonus is the bell shaped cream or pink flowers which appear after the minor shedding of leaves, usually in summer.

The kurrajong is frequently seen on farm properties as it is ideal for providing shade for stock and it is a very long lived tree requiring minimum maintenance and would be an ideal species for Northbourne Avenue in the long term.

Ron Gray, Cook

Destruction of Queanbeyan bushland began in earnest last week ("The road that's causing an uproar in Queanbeyan", Canberra Times, January 13, pp8-9) with council bulldozing for the Ellerton Drive Extension (EDE). But the first real damage was inflicted months ago by the NSW government, which destroyed local democracy by sacking 19elected representatives on the Queanbeyan and Palerang councils and replacing them with a politically appointed administrator to make all decisions.

In spite of all the community opposition to the EDE, this $100million developer's road was "ticked off" shortly after.

All residents in the amalgamated shire will now carry the huge up-front financial burden of this white elephant – even though residents in former Palerang have never been consulted as resolved by their former council.

There will be political fallout in Queanbeyan-Palerang for this amalgamation debacle unless swift action is taken by the NSW government to right the wrongs.

The NSW government must immediately pause the road works and its $25 million taxpayer grant until an elected council takes office in September 2017. And how about a comprehensive sustainable transport plan for the region before any multi-million-dollar roads are approved?

Claire Cooper, Queanbeyan, NSW

Colleen Lewis ("The reason we haven't had expenses reform", January 13, p29) is spot on in calling for meaningful reform of MPs' entitlements and the political donation regime, and the establishment of a federal ICAC.

Both major parties have been aware of the need for these reforms for many years but have never attempted to implement them for obvious amoral reasons.

So they will possibly put in place some mild meaningless reforms to placate the electorate.

A federal ICAC would indeed be an excellent start, provided it was immune from politicisation as has happened to so many of our institutions especially by the present government. Treasury and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal are glaring examples.

Appointment of failed politicians as ambassadors ahead of career diplomats is a cynical expression of their disdain of the electorate's opinions.

I think the two major parties are too indebted to their donors and their cartel has made them morally complacent.

It is time for the electorate to fix our broken democracy. Voting for parties is not the answer.

Max Jensen, Chifley

With all the shenanigans about Sussan Ley's travel, what on earth was Bronwyn Bishop going on about defending such behaviour by referencing those who were critical as being either socialists, self-pitying alcoholics or against free enterprise?

What can one say in response to such a defence except, "Nurse, nurse, that lady who used to be speaker of the house is out of bed again".

If our politicians are having intellectual difficulty differentiating from that which is a private jaunt, party fund-raising, attending celebrity weddings — polo matches, or AFL grand finals, as opposed to parliamentary and government business, how are we expected to believe they have the intellectual capacity to comprehend, to analyse, to evaluate, to synthesise programs/policies on education, health, defence, welfare, pensions etc?

I appreciate that the Centrelink overpayment recovery actions contextualised Sussan Ley's situation. It showed the two worlds within our community; that world of those in power, milking the system for their personal gain and at the same time sanctimoniously preaching austerity, and the other world — that to which the "end of entitlements" for the rest of us belong.

I suggest in the interests of equity and fairness, we petition the Tax Office to correlate politicians' parliamentary expenses and their tax returns.

As guardians of the public purse, I'm sure politicians would have no problem with that – or would they?

Mike Flanagan, Farrer

Ross Fitzgerald has raised the issue of the outcomes from our massively expensive tertiary education sector ("Tertiary education costs continue spiralling", January 16, p.14-15).

The column called to mind a recent experience in a mall in Wollongong.

The grandfather of one of my former students recognised me, and introduced himself.

He was moved with emotion when I asked how she was getting on.

She completed a university qualification as a primary school teacher at the end of 2013. Since then, he told me, she has had 12 days of employment as a casual teacher — there are some 47,000 unemployed qualified teachers seeking work in NSW.

She has abandoned the dream of entering her chosen profession and has a job behind a counter in a Myers store.

We agreed that there's no indignity in being employed by Myers.

He asked me, though "What was all that work for? And the debt — she owes so much money for that degree — how will she ever be able to get a loan to buy a unit?"

His greatest concern is that his granddaughter sees herself as a failure, her life as second rate.

He was quite affected by emotion when he told me that.

The response of universities to this situation is to train more teachers.

I guess we spend something like 100 billion dollars a year on the various education sectors. Surely there needs to be some sort of accountability for the outcomes of the provision of that money.

Noel Beddoe, Kiama

With "tertiary education costs spiralling out of control" is it too much to ask that business and industry resume paying the costs for training the human resources they require rather than burdening the taxpayer?

This would best align tertiary education and training with market needs and leave space for the taxpayer to fund "a handful of low-budget, non-vocational, tertiary institutions where staff salaries are capped" and education is pursued for its own sake.

Dr Peter Smith, Lake Illawarra, NSW

It seems to me there has been barely an audible comment by our Chief Minister since the recent election and certainly not since Christmas.

Numerous recent letters to The Canberra Times reveal a deep concern in sections of our community about the direction, scale and frenetic pace of building development, planning issues and community consultation and their effect on the future Canberra.

How about some leadership, Andrew.

Is there some overall plan or is it just gung-ho and let us see what it looks like later? That would be a tragedy.

John Mungoven, Stirling

I read the article "AFL on Barr's travel tab", December 16, p.1, several times looking in vain for a reference to our chief minister's interstate excursions relative to furthering any of the many other sports and activities in which the ACT electorate, both young and old, participate.

Sadly, it seems like our man is as selective in his sports as the conga line of leaners in the broader political population.

C. Adams, Yarralumla, ACT

Amanda Vanstone spends her entire column excoriating Bill Shorten for alleged hypocrisy over the Centrelink data-matching system ("Physician, heal thyself", January 16, p14).

In doing so, she also bleeds for the poor taxpayer who has to support welfare recipients (but she fudges the tax rates in doing so).

In all her hundreds of words, there's not one hint of similar criticism for her Liberal mates currently under fire for living it up on the taxpayers purse. Sorry, I forgot — they've all abided by the "rules" haven't they.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Your question "Heritage lost or progress?" (January 16, p.1) about demolishing duplex houses in Narrabundah, may be answered by another question: "Cui bono?" (who stands to gain?).

Those who demolish handsome solid brick heritage buildings, and those who build (perhaps inferior) replacements, gain. Heritage, streetscape, community preference, economy and sense, lose.

But, as the choice is made by the ACT Labor government it is not surprising demolition of these fine solid buildings, that could stand for centuries, gets the nod.

Cui bono?

Hugh Dakin, Griffith

Weddings Parties Anything. Not a band, it's what Liberal politicians are willing to claim travel expenses for.

Doug Steley, Heyfield Vic

EMERGENCY ANGELS

A big thank you to ACT State Emergency Service staff and volunteers since the freak storm on Friday. We were lucky to have them respond quickly to our call among the 800-plus calls for assistance. I have not seen so many trees knocked down in such a short space of time.

Rebecca Scouller, Forrest

LET GO OF THE 'GET-GO'

Paul Keating, whilst exhorting Australians to reject the incoming US administration's adventurism, demonstrates his orbit inside the US sphere of influence with his use of "get-go". I suggest he rejects yet another Americanism "from the outset"!

Jonathan Mobbs, Malua Bay, NSW

QUESTIONING ALLIANCE

Malcolm Fraser and now Paul Keating both raised the possibility of war with China. When two ex-prime ministers from opposing parties overlap to such a great extent it is more than fascinating. Serious questions about Australia's alliance with the US need to be asked and answered.

Nick Deane, Marrickville

LEY MAN SEES FUTURE

If Prime Minister Turnbull proceeds with the mooted parachuting of Senator Sinodinos into Sussan Ley's old job as Minister for Health, then there is a fair indication that Mr Turnbull intends to quit politics.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

POST-BIRTHDAY BLUES

On December 13, I posted a birthday card to my daughter, enclosing a cheque, from Canberra to Leichhardt, Sydney. It has not been delivered. I would like to ask the CEO of Australia Post to refund my $1.

F. Coble, Isaacs

CLEANING-UP COSTS

So, once more, "everything is on the table". Inserting pins in a few voodoo dolls to inflict punishment on existing politicians may temporarily placate the roiling masses, but taxpayers will continue to pay for moat cleaning ("Ley quits, PM vows to fix entitlements system," January 14, p.5).

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW

NON-RORTERS SHORTER

I think, after having observed so many of our politicians rorting the system at every turn for far too long, that The Canberra Times would do us all a favour by printing a list of any of them who are not rorting the system.

W. Book, Hackett

The first step in stopping the disgraceful waste of taxpayers' money by Members of Parliament on gratuitous travel should be to remove the word "entitlement".

Mark Sproat, Lyons

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

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