We are plagued by ageing cables and junction boxes accessed by technicians from numerous internet service providers who are answerable to no one for outages they cause while fixing the problem they are working on.

Although NBN Co owns all the cables in Canberra, it does not have a record of who accesses them, allowing technicians to take shortcuts and work in haste without any retribution for the problems they create.

After less than two weeks of moving to the NBN, my service was cut off.

A technician had disconnected my line at the junction box on a power pole 15 metres from my house. I discovered later two neighbours lost their service on the day mine was restored.

This didn't surprise me given the jumble of wires and the rough way my technician restored the junction box cover in his haste to move on to the next job.

A week on and my service was down again with the same symptoms.

I suspect another technician has been at that junction box. This time I had to wait four days for a technician as they don't appear to work on weekends.

Eight days out of 28 without an internet service is Third World standard.

I wonder how many more outages await me as more homes upgrade to the NBN?

While NBN Co allows untraceable access to its infrastructure by unaccountable technicians, its reputation will continue to be tarnished.

Chris Ballantyne, Garran

The closure of the rehabilitation pool at Canberra Hospital and the centralisation of such government services at the University of Canberra Hospital might make some vague economic sense for the government. However, it comes at much greater inconvenience and cost for community users living south of the lake. In a community sense, little, if anything, will be saved.

Arthritis ACT has indicated that nearly half of the almost 900 hydrotherapy sessions it provided to the community last year were at the Canberra Hospital. Patients in Tuggeranong, for example, many with restricted mobility, may now face a return trip of more than 60 kilometres to use the University of Canberra pool. A shuttle bus or public transport could take several hours.

Surely a city like Canberra with a population of around 400,000 and growing, generates enough compassion and government revenue to support two government operated rehabilitation pools to service those with chronic health conditions.

Christine Freudenstein, Weston

Joan Keith's reaction to the closure of the Canberra Hospital hydrotherapy pool (Letters, June 6) will be a surprise only to those who made this short-sighted decision.

I would go further than Joan's request for a new pool on the south side of Canberra, though. Every public swimming pool complex in the ACT, if not Australia, has a toddler's wading pool.

There must be as many people in Canberra who would benefit from hydrotherapy – if they could afford the cost of repeated use of private facilities – as there are toddlers.

Just look at the increasing number of Canberra residents aged 60 and over. Add to this number younger people who have suffered sporting injuries or been involved in other accidents.

Every public pool complex in the ACT should have a hydrotherapy pool open throughout the day and evening. The maintenance costs would be less than the costs associated with caring otherwise for those with muscular and skeletal injuries.

Ann Smith, Curtin

Even Sydney's beachside Dee Why's quality of life has been destroyed by the gross residential overdevelopment permitted by the zoning laws-annulment routinely requested by and freely granted to developers.

Here in Canberra, the CT has reported on Geocon's plans to flood the city with apartments targeting buyers from China.

Recent reports of falling foreign apartment sales, and their impact hopefully on apartment project starts, indicate a handy solution to this curse.

Forget reforming outrageous negative gearing provisions or waiting for a government that believes in upholding laws and in the re-introduction of actual industry regulation and oversight. All we have to do is put ads in Chinese media showing what buyers there can universally expect for the colossal prices of apartments in 21st century Australia – a global sieve-like perviousness to rain, non-compliance with any materials or techniques building standards, flooding car parks, vertical floor-to-floor bathroom leaks and so on.

Following the Crown Casino arrests in China in recent years, as part of the Chinese government's clampdown on its nationals' offshoring habits, we may even get those ads for free.

But otherwise I will enthusiastically join the locals in Belconnen, Woden and Dee Why in a crowd-funding campaign to run them.

Alex Mattea, Kingston

The celebrity chef was correct in stating, "What we've been told about nutrition is dangerously wrong" (Netflix urged to pull Pete Evans documentary, June 3, p9). The fat versus sugar disclosure regarding obesity establishes that.

That does not mean all the opinions expressed in his documentary The Magic Pill are correct but does suggest AMA president Tony Bartone is out of order and unscientific in his attempt to have the distributor suppress the movie.

Dr Bartone's attempt at censorship is reportedly not because of any specific error by Mr Evans but because some might "believe some of the claims contained in the documentary over the advice of health professionals".

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

If Toofy wishes to hit it off with a female of his species, he will need to become better informed about some details of their anatomy (Letters, June 7). Members of his species are not marsupials, but placentals.

David Wilson, Braddon

The announcement by Katy Gallagher that she is going to run for the Senate again makes a mockery of the Labor Party's preselection process.

David Smith (senator-elect as he has not yet been sworn in) was elevated to that position because the then senator Gallagher and her minders did not do their homework properly.

Now we have an ex-chief minister (Stanhope) publicly stating that David Smith should stand aside immediately. If this were to happen before Mr Smith is sworn in, it would not create a casual vacancy that would allow Ms Gallagher to be parachuted back into the senate.

This would cause the position to be returned to the High Court (acting as the court of disputed returns) and the vacancy would be moved to the next in line for the position as per votes and that would probably be a Greens candidate. If this were the case and the next in line for the seat (Greens) has returned to the public service or has taken up a position with the public service would also be ineligible to take the seat.

The next in line is a Liberal candidate and that could create a whole new situation (be careful of what you wish for Mr Stanhope).

Because of the voting pattern of the ACT in the Senate elections it is almost assured that one Liberal and one Labor member are elected in the Senate.

However, with the third House of Reps being flagged for next federal election and with the current affirmative action set-up in Labor, Ms Gallagher would have been a shoo-in for pre-selection in the new seat.

Unfortunately, it seems both No.1 candidates for the Senate in the ACT treat it as a job that will set them up for life.

Warwick Priestley, Amaroo

Does the ACT government have a valid excuse for the recent closure for reconstruction of Old Well Station Road from Flemington Road to Northbourne Avenue.

At a time when the public of Canberra are suffering inconvenience and frustration because of rail construction in Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, to remove an alternative that avoided the one-lane bottleneck of Flemington Road at EPIC is stupid, non-caring or just plain arrogant .

The alternative allowed traffic travelling on the GDE to exit at the cemetery via Sandford Street , cross Flemington Road onto Morisset Road and turn right onto Old Well Station Road then Northbourne Avenue .

This route also assisted traffic from Gungahlin to escape Flemington Road/EPIC and travel north.

Doubtless excuses of concern for traffic control and safety will be raised but why do this at such an inconvenient time?

Little progress appears to have happened over some weeks .

My money is also on an additional set of traffic lights.

Paul O'Connor, Hawker

According to the article "Scientists bite into dental advance" (May 3, p 16), it may soon be possible to grow material such as tooth enamel and bone.

It is difficult to see how bones containing marrow could be regrown, but it may be possible to re-create solid bone, such as that in the hands and feet. This alone would be a great contribution to human wellbeing.

The possibility that tooth enamel could be grown using the protein found to trigger crystal growth is, however, quite exciting – especially for people of more-advanced years.

Replacing tooth enamel damaged or destroyed by dental cavities could mean an end to expensive fillings (likely much to the dismay of some dentists). However, an even greater benefit could be for those who suffer from retreating gums (hence the expression "long in the tooth"). As the gums retreat, tooth enamel also tends to retreat, bringing with it increased tooth sensitivity and vulnerability to decay. Being able to replace the lost enamel would be a considerable boon to those so afflicted.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

There is a lot of discussion going on about brumbies in the high country and whether they are iconic or feral.

Banjo Patterson's famous poem is being invoked. We should be clear that the poem is not about the romantic qualities of brumbies, it is about a young man proving his manhood by bravely (or foolishly) racing his pony down a steep and dangerous slope, rounding up a herd of brumbies, and "alone and unassisted" bringing them to The Station.

There is no indication of whether he captured the valuable pony he was seeking, and no reference to the fate of the brumbies. I think it unlikely that they were simply released. Horses are known to cause a lot of damage with their hooves; you only have to go to a race meeting to see that. I think that there is no reason to be sentimental about brumbies, and the sooner they are treated like other feral animals, the better for native plants and wildlife.

National Parks are supposed to be for them.

Stewart Bath, Isabella Plains

In his letter ("Dealing with waste", June 6), the director of Capital Recycling Solutions seems to argue that landfill of unwanted waste is undesirable, but not so the airfill from burning.

This is hard to sustain on health grounds but could be justified on economic grounds in the free-for-all created with the Abbott government's abolition of the carbon tax.

Near- invisible, potentially dangerous, ultrafine nanoparticles from burning can travel a long way, enter the bloodstream through the lungs and may well reach the brain.

Ernest Dupere's letter adds to the on-off saga on the CRS Fyshwick incinerator.

Off, for now, to the public, in the latest CRS utterings.

On, to the government, in their official scoping applications.

Chris Klootwijk, Macarthur

Knowing that Senator Mitch Fifield is a stickler for compliance, I assume that his numerous complaints directed against the ABC are surely being made in accordance with its complaints process ("Minister Mitch Fifield lodges sixth complaint about the ABC in five months", canberratimes.com.au, June 2).

Given Senator Fifield's actions, perhaps it is time for the ABC to consider whether his complaints may be "frivolous, vexatious and not made in good faith". Should it decide that such is the case, it would be open to the ABC to consider terminating all correspondence with him.

Or perhaps the self-righteous senator could do everyone a favour and start looking for a real job ... after he fixes the disaster that has become the NBN, thanks to the diligence of his predecessor.

He certainly seems to have had his four cents' worth from the ABC.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

BETTER DISCIPLINE

The Brumbies' 9500 crowd for the Sunwolves game might have fallen short of the "15 for 15" objective (15,000 fans for a $15,000 charities donation), but the team finally came within a whisker of "15 (players) for 80 (minutes)", with Lucas being yellow-carded right before full time. A large improvement on recent matches.

Ian Douglas, Jerrabomberra

MANY NATIONS

When I last checked, One Nation consists of Two Hansonites, one Anning and one Burston. Stay tuned for more revisions.

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove

CURLY PROBLEM

Leunig's depiction of Mr Curly in disgrace (Panorama, June 2) typifies the way we look down on others, finding fault with our neighbours, and perhaps is a supplement to the story where Hugh Mackay is quoted "we are more cynical ... than we were 25 years ago".

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

LEAVE THEM BE

Why does the federal government want to "run" AGL and ANU when it can't even run the country?

Graeme Rankin, Holder

EMBASSY SUPPORT

J Sweeney (Letters, June 4), I thought the purpose of the Aboriginal Embassy was to help to remind us Aboriginal people exist. Without it, they would be much less visible in Canberra. I don't mind being reminded, I welcome it. I don't feel personally guilty, but I would like to let them know I am on their side.

Michael McCarthy, Deakin, ACT

BOOST SOLAR REBATE

As the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission approved a 14.29 per cent increase in power prices from July 1, can we expect a corresponding increase in the rebate for power generated by solar panels?

Michael Adler, Gungahlin

OUT TO PASTURE?

Education Minister Simon Birmingham has tweeted: "Our unis should embrace the study of the values that helped to create them and our modern society". Exactly!

Perhaps Senator Birmingham should be "homed" along with Mr Peter Cochran in a grassy paddock on agistment?

Frank McKone, Holt

GANDHI SMILING

Western civilisation, Ramsay Centre, the ANU and Tony Abbott ... Mahatma Gandhi must be having a good chuckle in his resting place.

John Rodriguez, Florey

READ THE METER

With ActewAGL bills expected to rise by an average of $300, customers could at least be given a public and personal guarantee from Mr Costello that every account will be based on an on-sight meter reading rather than an estimate.

Rob Elder, Flynn

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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