The NCA statement includes "a traveller's first perception of a city's character is gained upon approach and arrival ... And important that the traveller is aware of the special symbolic and functional significance of the national capital".

I want to know how the NCA proposal for wall-to-wall 15 storey apartment blocks all along Northbourne Avenue (as also vigorously championed by Chief Minister Barr in his insatiable appetite for more revenue from new developments) would in any conceivable way satisfy these objectives.

It seems to me that all this new NCA policy will do is sadly reinforce the growing perception that the critical role of future planning for the national capital has been taken over by the likes of the managing director of Geocon (as proudly attested to by Geocon's current media advertising). The national capital deserves much better than this.

Ron Edgecombe, Evatt

In the report "Feedback sought for 'visually stunning' gateway to Canberra" (January 23, p5), it is stated that the National Capital Authority (NCA) has plans for 37,000 new dwellings along Northbourne Avenue.

I have been told, and a few times seen for myself, that traffic along Northbourne Avenue is already highly congested.

An additional 37,000 dwellings will make that situation far worse.

Not all of the at least 50,000 new residents will use the light rail for commuting; many will use their cars.

The NCA will apparently also set guidelines for building facade designs. It is to be hoped that the new facades are considerably more attractive than those of most recently constructed buildings in Canberra.

No mention of trees was made in the report. It is to be hoped that every effort will be made to plant as many trees as possible along Northbourne Avenue, both to beautify its appearance and to reduce as much as possible the heat island effect of the many new buildings and any unshaded paved surfaces.

As the present spell of very hot weather demonstrates, avoiding the heat island effect is likely to become increasingly important as climate change progresses.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

As well as the shocking building defects, what about the poor, verging on slumlike living conditions being foisted on us by developers in many new apartments?

They include: Ever-narrowing aspect ratios (external wall width and side wall length); virtually no discrete entry areas; front doors opening right beside ubiquitous internal kitchens, or into bedroom/bathroom/laundry areas; internal or virtually-internal bedrooms; cramped combined kitchen, dining, and living areas; too many areas requiring artificial ventilation and daytime artificial lighting; poor solar access; un-openable, and high-silled windows; west facing balconies; bedrooms opening directly into living areas; little or no cross ventilation; intrusive air conditioning equipment on balconies, many of which are unusable anyway; cramped and/or overlooked common outdoor areas; dingy public corridors – the list goes on.

Are purchasers lulled into overlooking those shocking shortcomings by myths of the acceptability of new "norms" in amenity and privacy (barely acceptable in short-stay accommodation, on which many apartment designs are based), or are buyers seduced by flashy expensive appliances, sanitary fittings, stone benches, etc?

And, are owners and investor-landlords oblivious to the inevitable detrimental impacts such systemically poor 19th century-like living conditions will have on population health?

Critically, why don't planners and politicians understand that they are surely complicit in the above, through their tacit, and possibly negligent acceptance of such low and facile property-industry "standards", when pursuing the often misguided policies of "densification", preventing "urban sprawl", and even energy/environmental conservation, especially here in well planned Canberra?

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Warren Mundine is without doubt a competent person, but a Liberal he isn't. Having failed to secure a winnable seat from the Labor Party, of which he's been a member for many years, he's decided to change sides and is to be parachuted into Gilmore, and hang his principles.

The Prime Minister has previously lectured us about grass roots democracy in the Liberal Party but it seems that doesn't count for much when there's an opportunity to virtue signal to the Aboriginal community. I doubt that community is as stupid as the Prime Minister thinks they are.

Roger Dace, Reid

Given the propensity of some Mundines to change political affiliations or sporting codes, might I suggest Anthony Mundine give up his wish for another boxing bout against Jeff Horn, and revert to Rugby League: this time for the recently vacated position as coach of the Sharks.

After all, it is a neighbouring team of his previous beloved Dragons, and he could be parachuted into the job by a well-known supporter of the Sharks. Coaching the Dogs might be better suited to some other person.

Greg Simmons, Lyons

Australians Dr Craig Challen (2019 WA Australian of the Year) and Richard Harris (2019 SA Australian of the Year) had gone across to Thailand to successfully rescue the 12 Thai soccer boys trapped in a treacherous, flooded cave.

Now Thailand authorities are holding in detention an Australian soccer player for possible extradition to Bahrain, the country he had fled on account of political persecution.

What an irony! And, what a crying shame!

Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW

To answer the questions raised by Peter Tait (Letter, January 23) every death is a tragedy. What is, however, a greater tragedy are the many young people in Canberra whose lives are destroyed by illicit drugs.

Singapore has one of the lowest incidence of illicit drug usage and trafficking in the world.

The reason, very strict penalties.

Sweden has one of the lowest incidence of drink driving in the world.

The reason, very strict penalties.

To assert that criminalising dangerous activities does not work seems incongruous.

Jim Coats, Fadden

Like the Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud I'm also fair dinkum about finding a solution (excuse the pun) to the current drought.

For years I've been monitoring weather patterns around Australia and what has become clear to me is rain does not alway fall where it is needed. Quite often rain falls where there has already been rain and extensive flooding occurs. Some rivers are often in the wrong location to where rain falls. And because of this poor river planning rain fails to provide the essential ingredient for life.

One solution suggestion is to introduce a more flexible river drainage system around Australia. This would mean established communities would have to move with the rivers whenever and where ever rain falls. It is noted there will be some inconvenience but the outcomes I assure you will be worth the effort.

Another solution idea is to cease all forms of advanced agriculture in Australia and revert back to hunter-gatherer food collection methods. This idea has been raised before with previous Agriculture Ministers and, it was agreed, has a lot of merit. Just think of the cost savings in fencing, ploughing, sowing, harvesting, branding, transport, drenching, fertilisers, weed control, machinery repairs to name just a few of the many tasks associated with modern farming methods.

Unfortunately there will be some pain experienced by communities who would have to give up their permanent residency and move with the mobs of kangaroos and emus as these nomadic animals roam around the country. No longer would the ancient Australian soils suffer from surface compaction. No longer would there be algal blooms from the overuse of artificial fertilisers washing into rivers and no longer would drought have the same impact on fixed locations as is experienced today. There might even be a flourishing native fish population in the Murray Darling River system reminiscent of earlier years before the introduction of cotton, grains, sheep and cattle, orchards and vineyards.

John Sandilands, Garran

Benke's cartoon showing both an Australian flag and an Aboriginal flag on the Parliament House flagpole (The Canberra Times, p17, January 22) reminded me of something I intensely dislike: the flying of Indigenous flags alongside the Australian flag at government buildings. To me that well-intentioned practice is a racist one which unintentionally signifies that Indigenous people are not Australians.

I do not blame Indigenous people for this practice. That the Australian flag incorporates the British flag, but no Indigenous flag, is an extreme insult to Indigenous people. It began when Indigenous people were not regarded as Australian citizens, and is unacceptable. Reconciliation is impossible while this insult continues.

How should the insult be rectified? One solution would be to incorporate symbols representing Indigenous, British and other heritages, but this would be complicated. Another would be to replace the British flag with something representing all heritages (for example, a light blue and white circle representing Earth as seen from space). A third would be to merely discard the use of the British flag. However, my preference is to replace the British flag with an Indigenous one acknowledging the original inhabitants of our country.

Few Australians would take strong exception to this, and most Indigenous Australians would regard it as a genuine attempt at reconciliation.

Further, the heritage of most non-Indigenous Australians is displayed at international events by the many flags flown. The heritage of Indigenous Australians is not. My recommended change would correct that anomaly.

R. Salmond, Melba

The article "Tony Abbott's Indigenous idea has come of age", (The Canberra Times, January 22) does provide one option for significantly increasing first-nation representation in the Federal Parliament and answers the question of what form a voice might take as well as sidestepping the third-chamber problem.

There is much to commend it. On the other hand, we will be still left with a ramshackle federal structure which is increasingly incapable of countering massive environmental degradation and regional problems.

We have no shortage of state and territory assemblies, lower houses, upper houses and their members but increasingly the body politic looks to the national government for solutions.

A third chamber which replaces state and territory parliaments as well as giving significant representation to first-nation peoples would provide more effective administration (hopefully) as well as addressing some deep-seated wrongs.

Meanwhile, the sight of individuals jockeying between the Senate and state upper houses continues (Bump me into any upper house?).

If increasing first-nation representation in the Senate along the Abbott proposal eventually does get up, can't the remaining state upper houses at the least be scrapped?

Steve O'Neill, Watson

ACT Liberal leader Alistair Coe has said "A Canberra Liberals government will trial real-time monitoring of fuel prices to improve transparency of the system ..." ("ACT Liberals promise to trial fuel watch scheme", p2, January 2). I suggest that the cost of an 'e-litre' should be included. An e-litre is a way to compare the cost of travelling in an electric vehicle with an average petrol vehicle.

A 7L per 100km petrol car will go around 14km consuming a litre of fuel costing about $1.50.

A typical electric car uses 50 cents worth of electricity at the current flat tariff of 25c/kWh to cover the same distance.

Hence, the current cost of an 'e-litre' of electric 'fuel' is 50c.

Peter Campbell, Cook

With his recent missive about proper dress standards for Australia Day ceremonies, is ScoMo now setting himself up as the Giorgio Armani of Australia's sartorial standards? If he is now "Designer in Chief of Haute Couture" can he please refrain from wearing those ridiculous caps!

Chris Mobbs, Hackett

QUALITY GIG

If you have to take drugs to enjoy a concert that says a lot about the quality of the performance.

Roger Quarterman, Campbell

PERSPECTIVE

It's good to know the Gilmore electorate can vote for a man who supports traditional Liberal values and policies since Tuesday when he became a member.

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

CAPPING COSTS

I quite agree with Greg Cornwell regarding cost of services for large families (Letters, January 22).

I will not vote now for a candidate with more than three children.

John Simsons, Holt

FAMILY FIRST

Politicians planning to retire to spend more time with their family should mark David Letterman's observation that it's a good idea to check the plan with your family first. M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA

ENTER AT OWN RISK

I guess Roxanne's red light was operating when works safety inspectors were stopped from entering, however, just which one of those inspectors slapped the prohibition notices on the brothel ("Brothel shut down over fire hazards", p10, January 23)?

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

NOT QUITE FYRE

Could the Canberra Dance Co-op become our own little version of the infamous Fyre Festival?

If you've never heard of Fyre, there is not one but two newly released online documentaries dedicated to it. As to my question: I don't think so ... Dolce Bar is about as far away from a Bahamian island paradise as you can get!

Maclaren Wall, Braddon

NEW DATE NEEDED

Peter Fitzwarryne (Letters, January 23) labours under the misapprehension that January 26 was when Australia was founded. The date represents the founding of a penal colony at Port Jackson. Australia came into being on January 1 when the colonies federated.

It is unfortunate the advocates of January 26 refuse to recognise it's deficiencies as a celebration of our Nation's achievements. A less divisive date needs to identified.

Mike Quirk, Garran

NEIGHBOURLY

We found it almost impossible to believe that only 4 per cent of the ACT's residents know their neighbours. We must live in a lucky place as our neighbours both sides, across the street and over the back are like family. Not only do we keep an eye out for their houses when they are away, we also put out and take in rubbish bins, check their mail and feed their pets. Birthdays, Christmas and any other special occasions are celebrated together. If there are any "odd jobs" to be done, my hubby is first to offer assistance at no cost.

Sandra Smith, Macgregor

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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