In the CT article he espouses higher densification, a clear endorsement of continuing Canberra’s rapid population growth.

The city is experiencing sprawling residential development, the external NSW hinterland doing likewise.

Without change we can anticipate an eventual cross-boundary very large inland city of a million or more people.

This parallels the growth of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, all of which are feeling the pains of overcrowding, but are destined to continue growing because of federal high-growth population policies.

But unlike the coastal capitals, Canberra and other southern inland towns rely for water on the Murray Darling Rivers System with its finite supply.

Current and future growth is increasing water demand, and bringing forward the time when it will exceed that supply (if that is not already happening).

Is our current population growth without limit a cancer on the environment?

It is vital that a long-term sustainable maximum population be determined for our region, and not exceeded, so inevitable droughts don’t cause financial and social upheaval as is happening now throughout the Murray Darling Basin.

Desperate landholders are demanding water be diverted to irrigation to save their farms.

Will that simply bring forward the time for imposition of stringent general water restrictions?

How long will the drought last?

No one knows.

A long-term cautionary planning approach must replace unlimited growth.

Vince Patulny, Kambah

Alison Harris wrote in The Canberra Times (‘‘Now dreading the onslaught of summer’’, August 28, p17) about a devastating drought near Balranald.

In April 2015, I was in Longreach in central Queensland. At the time, pastoralists had endured a three-year drought.

Wind the clock back to before the 1788 settlement. How did Aboriginal people cope with droughts?

They’d move to areas where water meant food and game. They’ve survived for thousands of years.

Unfortunately for non-Aboriginal people, homesteads and shearing sheds don’t have wheels.

What can I do in Canberra? We installed 28 solar panels on our roof – plus three hot-water panels.

As well as harvesting energy (from our roof) we harvest rain-water from our roof.

When full, our tanks can hold 32,000 litres.

As our roof is half the size of our block, we doubled our rainfall. But there’s more.

To cut heating costs we installed double-glazing and reverse-cycle air-conditioners.

Using radiators costs four-times what reverse-cycle air-conditioners cost.

Please don’t mention climate change and global warming. It’s too vulgar.

The Liberals need donations from the coal and oil lobby to win the next election.

Graham Macafee, Latham

It was reassuring to read that some senior members of the Morrison government want Australia to abide by its commitment to reduce emissions under the Paris agreement (‘‘Senior MPs warn against exiting Paris deal’’, August 29, p4).

Even Matt Canavan, who has repeatedly declared his love of coal, believes that Australia should stick with its commitment to the international agreement.

However, the appointment of anti-wind farm campaigner Angus Taylor as Energy Minister seems to me a rather cynical move by the new Prime Minister, who has demonstrated his attitude to renewable energy by taunting its supporters in parliament with a lump of coal.

As members of the government who want us to stick with the Paris commitment have said, Australia would lose face if we reneged on the deal. Surely we don’t want to be regarded as an emissions pariah on the world stage, like Donald Trump’s America.

Furthermore, it makes economic sense to wean ourselves of fossil fuels, especially coal. Building new renewable energy facilities is already less expensive than building new high-efficiency low-emissions coal-fired power stations, and will become cheaper, even with battery storage included.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

If you consider Angus Taylor’s past record – including his obsessive opposition to the proven technology of wind energy – and his comments on ascending to the ministry (‘‘Coal, gas to the fore in price pledge’’, August 30, p1) it becomes apparent that it would indeed be inaccurate to describe him as a climate science denialist.

This would always have been far too rudimentary an error for a person of Mr Taylor’s undeniable intellect.

But, if you compare his position with the scientific, political, moral and economic facts – including the true emissions profile of gas and the many successes of ARENA and the CEFC – it becomes equally clear that what he is actually denying is reality.

Felix MacNeill, Dickson

The tram/bridge problem can surely be easily solved, given the level of intelligence demonstrated so far by our Assembly planners.

Terminate the Northern line at Regatta Point and supply a ferry across the lake.

Oh, wait; perhaps a tunnel under Commonwealth Avenue bridge might be a better idea.

But then again, they could also ...

David Nolan, Holder

In decrying the continued focus on cheap electricity at the expense of the catastrophic effects of the expansion of the human race and the spread of economic development, Rod Holesgrove apportions blame to ‘‘some sections of the media’’ (Letters, August 26).

Is it any wonder that the average Australian is blissfully unaware of mass-extinction-level rates of species loss, the accuracy with which predicted rises in temperature and sea level have been realised, or the deteriorating suitability of our planet for our current way of life, when one man owns 70 per cent of print media in this country and the dissemination of such facts might lead to the election of more responsible politicians less inclined to cut deals with the devil?

He has been utterly shameless in jeopardising the future of our planet for personal enrichment.

The relentless News Limited campaign against the ABC isn’t because it’s a competitor, they hate that its impartiality and commitment to present the objective truth limits their own ability to manipulate facts and steer public opinion in ways that benefit them and their commercial partners.

James Allan, Narrabundah

The Canberra Air Disaster in August 1940 significantly changed Australia’s political and military history, leading to the downfall of the Menzies government and its replacement by a Curtin Labor government during the Second World War.

Recognising the impact beyond the personal tragedy of the deaths of all 10 on board, ABC Radio National is airing a two-episode podcast about it on the next two Tuesday mornings, titled Menzies’ Darkest Hour.

It features former defence minister Kim Beazley and Andrew Tink, former barrister and NSW shadow attorney general.

Despite the enormity of the plane crash which killed three cabinet ministers and the Chief of General Staff en route to a vital war cabinet meeting, it has become even more difficult to find the two memorials to those killed – on the crash site just south of Canberra airport.

The ACT government hasn’t seen fit to erect contemporary informative signs on Pialligo Avenue, nor to even replace the dilapidated old one that fell down months ago.

Curious RN listeners should look for the paintball sign and walk 3km, following the small guiding arrows, until the government recognises the disaster’s place in history and gives the memorial the prominence it deserves through signage and vehicle access.

Estelle Blackburn, Phillip

The first of September is Wattle Day, an event that was a special symbol of patriotism during the war years.

In complete disregard to the sacrifice our soldiers of past years made, the Australian Republican Movement, combined with Shorten Labor, have hijacked this sacred day to try to influence others – with sausages and the like – to agree in the tearing down of our constitution. Worse, they are not telling us how our constitution is to be replaced.

It’s just like requiring people to move house without telling them where they are going.

In response to the paltry barbecues organised by republicans and politicians, the Australian Monarchist League is putting its money where its mouth is and has commenced its own campaign opposing a republic.

Over the next few days a series of billboards worth $140,000 will go up around the country with the message: ‘‘Reject the Politician’s Republic.’’

The signs have already gone up in Victoria (Bentleigh and Derrimut) and will be going online in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales in a day or so.

Unlike republican politicians who are using public monies to promote their republican barbecues, the Australian Monarchist League uses only funds donated by its members and supporters.

For 25 years the Australian Monarchist League has been defending the Australian Constitution. We believe that it is our constitution that has maintained the stability and security of this nation despite the best efforts of our political elite to create chaos in their thirst for more power.

Philip Benwell, National Chair, Australian Monarchist League

We’ve all been to school and have an opinion about the best way to educate children, so the ACT Education Directorate’s new direction for the curriculum in the ACT has made for interesting conversation.

As Director of Curriculum Strategy at Canberra Girls Grammar School (CGGS), it is my responsibility to ensure we can strike a balance between: increased academic rigour; preparation for future work/study; and the ability to be part of a vibrant community.

Many universities now consider more than an ATAR – evidence of community association and portfolios of work which display evidence of ‘‘21st century skills’’.

To accommodate this, CGGS has embarked on an ambitious project to bring many of these skills into the school offering. Our Ad Astra program sits alongside the Australian Curriculum in Years 7 to 10, complementing the acquisition and application of knowledge with the learning of transferable skills.

This balanced approach to learning is not new – Victoria and Tasmania have a long tradition of providing alternative educational experiences to students, usually Years 8 and 9.

The introduction of Ad Astra makes a small but significant change to the course study. This, no doubt, can be challenging for members of the school community, not only parents and students but teaching staff as well. In the end, it is about equipping our students with real-life skills as well as academic skills, which is, after all, what teaching is all about.

Jane O’Brien, director curriculum strategy, Canberra Girls Grammar School

I attended a community meeting in Bonython this week where drones were discussed. Everyone at the meeting was against these flying whippersnappers, as noisy, an invasion of privacy and potentially dangerous.

One lady broke down in tears when she recounted being surprised by a drone flying over her head.

To anyone who says that Bonython residents are in favour of drones flying over their house, I say go and ask them.

I have spoken to many residents and everyone I have spoken to is thoroughly annoyed by these noisy, intrusive devices.

On Sunday one property in the next street to me received six deliveries, presumably a meal, piece by piece.

The drones flew directly over our house. And there were many other flights over our house on the weekend.

The company flying them states that they will take motorbike deliveries off the streets — well, bike deliveries are very few around here, and motorbikes do not fly noisily over our heads!

Nev Sheather, Bonython

The proposal by the Greens (CT page 1 August 29) for changing the basis for ACT rates would be a major step backwards. The Greens are seeking to base rates on a property’s market value rather than as currently the unimproved market value.

This would result in a significant increase in rates that are already rising at a rate far in excess of inflation.

In principle individual rates should be set to recover the goods and services provided by the ACT government and consumed by an individual each year. This principle was embodied in what was called a ‘‘poll tax’’ introduced by in Britain by Margaret Thatcher many years ago. Each year a flat rate tax was calculated. Its introduction for various reasons proved to be difficult.

In regard to the Greens’ proposal that the size and location of a person’s house reflects their ability to pay rates, this is incorrect. Many people in large high-value houses are cash poor. They are already paying income tax.

While the current system is far from perfect it is better than that proposed by the Greens.

Brian Brocklebank, Bruce

RESTRICT NOISY DRONES

Last weekend in Bonython, instead of waking to the tranquil sounds of birds, we were bombarded with the squealing sounds of flying electric lawn mowers, known as drones. Every delivery was announced with a loud buzzing sound. I can understand in a rural area the benefits for drones, but in a suburban area it is just wrong.

There needs to be a law on their operating times. The same as there are for other things such as lawn mowers and late-night parties.

A. Sheather, Bonython

HONOURABLE LIES?

I see that our local ACT politicians want to have the epithet ‘‘the honourable’’ placed in front of their name.
I suggest that, while we’re at it, we add the following: ‘‘the delicious’’ to kale; ‘‘the clean’’ to coal; ‘‘the ethical’’ to banks; ‘‘the musical’’ to rap; ‘‘the beneficial’’ to our toy tram; and I can think of many more. Wasn’t it Dr Goebbels who said ‘‘if you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one‘‘?

Fred Pilcher, Kaleen

GOOD NEWS ON LIGHT RAIL

So, the ACT has threatened to pull pin on light rail stage two. There is finally some good news to report.

Les Bienkiewicz, Kingston

MCMULLAN HAD IT RIGHT

Former Member for Fraser and Senator for the ACT Bob McMullan refused to use the honorific ‘‘The Honourable’’ although entitled to do so during his parliamentary career. His reason was simple and clear: ‘‘People might think me honourable because of what I do, or not. The title won’t change their mind.’’ That seemed an honourable position to me.

Steve Blume, Chapman

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