Alternative proposals to expand existing major ports (Kembla, Botany or Newcastle) would cost far more than the $3 billion (upper-limit) preliminary estimate for Canberra-Eden, and deliver no ancillary benefits of congestion reduction, provision of affordable housing or decentralisation.

The proposed passenger service relies on a value capture strategy, predicated on affordable housing developments within easy commuting distance from Canberra (Michelago, Bredbo and Cooma, perhaps also Nimmitabel). The sale of development sites within existing township boundaries would offset a significant proportion of the up-front capital costs of the railway, and help drive regional development goals.

I agree that the main priority for fast passenger rail in NSW should be Canberra-Sydney, but that has proved a much more challenging and highly politicised proposition, with more severe terrain, dense existing development, and a fully utilised rail and road corridor to contend with. Canberra-Eden could be completed at far lower difficulty, and would be a compelling proof-of-concept for medium-speed mixed-use rail in regional Australia. Considering the potential benefits to our region, the $1 million budget for the proposed feasibility study is in no way outlandish.

Edwin Michell, author of concept plan for Canberra to Eden Railway, Bungendore

It is heartening to see that Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has finally twigged that there is a problem with fire safety in Canberra buildings ("Safer buildings in Canberra: Minister supports changes to fire laws", February 24).

It is a pity that he did not show as much interest when I wrote to him on February 1, 2018 to express my concern about the fire risk in a (now being constructed) high-rise tower in Woden. I pointed out that in the wake of the loss of life in the Grenfell Tower fire, all planning authorities should take the risk of fire in residential towers very seriously. I am still awaiting a reply.

Mike Reddy, Curtin

Ian Warden has completely lost the plot! He says the ACT government should award a $100,000 NIMBY prize for Bonython's drone-inflicted residents. This bizarre comment shows just how far Mr Warden has drifted from reality. Just to clarify, it's nothing to do with the award, but in what world would Andrew Barr ever spend $100,000 on Tuggeranong?

J.Smith, Kambah

As a former convenor of the ACT's Republican Movement I write to congratulate Ian Warden on his derision of knighthoods and other gongs installed on Australians by the Queen of England on Australia Day and other dates ("'Sir' no honour for Finney", February 24).

Unlike the honourable Warden, I weakened when Government House offered me one of her baubles – a gimmicky Centenary of Federation medal – but did so for one reason. The citation which accompanied it said I'd been singled out for my "service to the community through the Australian Republican Movement". I wonder how many other Republicans so satisified the monarch.

I will, of course, decline her invitation to become president when the day comes, suggesting instead she appoint the duumvirate of Warden/Cassidy to the position.

I'd like to think the gong-shy Ian will join me in accepting that honour.

Frank Cassidy, Kambah

The Moritz interim report on the Menindee fish-kill was recently released to Bill Shorten and the public. I congratulate them on a sound foundation for further work.

There are some incomplete perspectives, namely the hydrogeology and the flow relationships between river and aquifers.

Both are critical to interventions, and are widely misunderstood. Some hydrologists know about this, because the region was studied in 2012 by Geoscience Australia – the "Broken Hill Menindee Aquifer Recharge" or BHMAR project.

Two rescue solutions outlined by Moritz offer little hope for the fish without widespread rain: Solution 1 – a northern rescue flow, risks filling Lake Wetherell and its aquifers with salt, and Solution 2 (currently in progress) amounts to converting fish pool havens towards aquaria. If the drought is prolonged, both will fail.

The Moritz report wrongly implied that there is no local fresh water. There is plenty of underground fresh water at Menindee, and some hydrologists know where it is and know how to get it: Table 10-1 of BHMAR Report 5, shows around 140 Gigalitres at 10 per cent drawdown for water 600 mg/Litre EC salinity.

The BHMAR research deserves urgent reframing – this time for a small number of freshwater production bores, with conjunctive management of the Darling and its aquifers, using free natural aquifer recharge. This ecology can be rescued, regardless of how long the drought lasts, with integrated use of surface and aquifer waters.

Let's not wait until it's too late.

Dr Peter Main, Higgins

If the photo in the Sunday Canberra Times is any guide ("Canberrans turn out in droves...", February 24, p2), OH&S; hasn't yet penetrated the sport of woodchopping. One would have thought that, given contestants are wielding sharp axes with great gusto at logs beneath their feet, instead of wearing casual footwear, participants would be wearing steel-cap boots!

Gordon Fyfe, Kambah

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