The article ''Government slammed for lack of consultation'' (Canberra Times April 23, p.8) is misleading. Your journalist asked the ACT Planning and Land Authority for information regarding lake foreshore works, in particular beautification works around Lake Ginninderra.
She was told there were no current development applications in the system, that if they were minor works they may be exempt. She was also told that if any works were currently being planned the Department of Territory and Municipal Services would have details about them.
This was represented as ''the department knew nothing about it'', and the inference made that ACTPLA does not communicate with other government agencies, nor does it consult with the community. In fact, ACTPLA regularly liaises with other agencies and consults with the community on major projects.
The article refers to major works in Belconnen, i.e. the bus interchange and Westfield centre expansion. These works have been the subject of ongoing consultation with TAMS and the community since well before the first development application was lodged. A look at ACTPLA's website would have revealed a webpage on Belconnen containing detailed information on the works and other information, including a brochure explaining the changes that was delivered to more than 18,000 nearby residents and local businesses.
Media releases have also been issued on the subject, and development applications notified as appropriate. Meetings were also held with local stakeholders, including the Belconnen Community Council. Had more detailed questions been asked there would, in fact, be no story and no misrepresentation of the role of government agencies.
Neil Savery, ACT Planning and Land Authority Tamil protests
Rowdy demonstrations by the so-called Tamil community are an element of the worldwide mayhem caused by Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) apologists in these last days of Tiger terrorism in Sri Lanka.
Their warlord and the topmost leaders are now trapped in a 10sqkm area, cowering behind civilian hostages.
In a last-ditch attempt to save them, terrorists have mobilised their expatriate community to cause disruption and anarchy in their host countries to force these governments to call for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
Here in Australia, we saw them attacking shops and civilians in Melbourne, blocking the Sydney CBD and Parramatta streets during rush hour, and even laying siege to Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra.
Not a single anarchist was apprehended, thanks to our political correctness.
These troublemakers have another hidden reason for this sudden uproar. Many of these activists are bogus refugees pending appeals at refugee tribunals and courts. They not only rob the rights of genuine refugees from elsewhere, but also our goodhearted generosity in the name of humanity.
If LTTE terrorism, which has bled Sri Lanka for three decades, is wiped out, as seems imminent now, then these rogues cannot claim that the island is at war and will have to go back. Thousands of their cadres back in Sri Lanka will have no support for bogus refugee claims.
Asoka Subhawickrama, North Strathfield Corporate doctors
In reply to R.Williams (Letters, April 21), and just for the record, my article ''Bigger not always better for patients or practitioners'' (Canberra Times, April 17) did not imply that doctors in corporate clinics are ''questionable''. On the contrary, I referred to the problem of good doctors abandoning good and medium-sized small clinics.
Dr Sue Wareham, Evatt
Read your Bible
Rosalind Carew (Letters, April 21) should read her Bible more carefully. While I accept that Christ is said to have accepted all without prejudice, He certainly did not accept all without criticism. His injunction was always ''Go now and sin no more''. Those who persisted in sin despite His teaching, that is the scribes and Pharisees, He did not accept. This annoyed them so much that they had Him crucified because He would not change the teaching.
Kevin Wellspring, Melba
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