Plans for all that go back to the late 1980's, including one by Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Architects, sponsored by the constructors of Parliament House.

Local businessman, Terry Snow commissioned a design competition for the hill precinct in the early 2000's and many entries (including a design I had humbly put forward earlier, called Civic Eye), incorporated all those facilities and more.

Terry lost interest under the weight of political inertia, went to the airport, and has only recently returned to City Hill with an office block and hotel (near the Legislative Assembly building), sadly, with little of the panache and verve of the competition entries.

The ACT government (and the Commonwealth) needs to use that competitive methodology more often for significant public projects here, including the overdue City Hill bus station. Then we might be more able to get them off the ground.

Jonathon Hansen ("Is global high speed internet worth losing a clear night sky?", canberratimes.com.au, September 20) did well to draw attention to Elon Musk's invasion of Earth's night sky. Musk's "conga line" of hundreds of satellites will divert billions of human beings, now and in the future, from our ancient right to look up at the natural heavens and be inspired by this life-giving Earth's tiny place in the star-spangled depths of the universe.

Photographers, poets, dreamers and astronomers alike are being robbed by billionaire Musk, without consultation, consideration or compensation.

Unauthorised, he is tearing pages out of humanity's birthright book of nature to burn on the fire of his own transient vanity.

In the last few days the words of former PM Paul Keating and the Australia Institute's Richard Dennis have echoed in the minds of many of us who worry about aged care.

Keating's suggestion to the Royal Commission that the cost of our care be charged to our estates, and Dennis's suggestion that the provision of good aged care is one of our country's best job creation opportunities, both have great merit.

I for one would be happy if, should I get dementia, my money was used by my children to create jobs for the people whom they employ to care for me, either in my own home or by way of extra professional staff in a suitable, properly-regulated group facility. They will be able to do this because I have appointed them to be my joint powers of attorney.

This should free up government monies to pay for not-for-profit services to those whose resources are insufficient to use in this way.

A huge congratulations to Dan McKellar, the Brumbies coaching staff, and the wonderful players for bringing home the silver. What a night. You have pulled off an outstanding year when everything was against you this season. It is testimony to your professionalism, commitment, and true belief in yourselves as well as the Brumbies.

You thoroughly deserve the title and we were elated to be there at Canberra Stadium to witness it. We can't thank you enough for your entertaining rugby display this season, it's been spectacular.

Well done and enjoy the party, you deserve it!

M Moore (Letters, September 20) complains about the "old guard" continually lamenting about the loss of the "good old days" .

As a relative newcomer to the ACT of only 15 years he [or she] is not in a good position to judge. Change might be a constant but any changes taking place should always be for the betterment, not to the detriment, of the residents.

This does not appear to be the case in the vast majority of instances to date, in fact the very opposite has happened.

The proposed Territory Plan variation to house up to 1300 people next to the Fyshwick sewage treatment plant has been being pursued by the Molonglo group for nearly 10 years.

This is despite the knowledge the residents will have the "enjoyment" of the odours from the plant. Actew (now Icon Water) opposed the development back then. What has changed?

If this development is approved by a re-elected Barr government, as their record strongly suggests it would be, ACT home owners could be up for the cost, through their sewerage bills, for additional sewage treatment, or the relocation of the plant at a cost of millions of dollars.

Why should we have to pay for this?

The apparent concern of ACT health authorities over falling COVID-19 testing rates seems illogical.

It has been over two months since there was a COVID-19 case in Canberra. There is no evidence of the virus being latent in the community; this has been confirmed by the ANU's weekly sewerage testing.

It is only logical that the numbers of people being tested would fall as a result. Why would you get tested unless you have been to an interstate hotspot or have been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

Getting tested just for the sake of it, and to boost testing numbers, would be a waste of time and money.

According to ABS statistics on influenza in 2017 there were 1255 deaths. More than 95 per cent occurred in people over 65 years of age.

According to Australian Department of Health statistics (September 16) on COVID-19 there have been 824 deaths during 2020. More than 96 per cent have occurred in people over 65.

Those most vulnerable to both viruses are over 65. Vulnerability increases with age and pre-existing conditions.

Influenza is managed by large scale vaccination. COVID-19 has been managed by legislation restricting contact between people.

The COVID-19 statistic is dominated by 582 deaths (70 per cent of all deaths) that occurred in a dozen or so aged care homes in Victoria.

While we wait on an uncertain future in which COVID-19 may be managed, to a greater or lesser degree, by vaccines, the economy on which all people under 65 are totally dependent is being devastated. It would be much better for all concerned if we abandoned the arbitrary domestic restrictions that are in place and focused on a manageable long-term commitment to protect the vulnerable.

I've asked both major parties what their position is with respect to begging on the street. The practice is legal only in NSW, the ACT, and WA (the last is reconsidering the law).

Beggars are common in the ACT. Presumably, these are people who have slipped through the social security net. Because it's legal, there is no opportunity for government agencies to seek the details of the individuals and to check on their circumstances with a view to determining how they may have ended up in this position. Anyone who asks along these lines ... can be told to get lost.

Candidates have told me these are not people who just don't want to work. They are are victims of society's failures. But neither party seems to feel society has a responsibility to be concerned about these people and to try to connect them with welfare services. Walking past is okay.

Would it not be better law those who choose to beg on the street had to provide their details to government making it possible for society to do what it can to assist them?

As a Canberran I have had a gutful of speed-cameras and parking inspectors being used as a means of revenue raising.

Excessively large fines, an impenetrable appeal process, and a focus on issuing infringements for generally very safe zones, rather than deploying resources to known safety black spots have got me angry.

Oh, and don't forget the outrageous $34 for the cost of issuing a reminder. How is that justifiable? What have you got to say Mr Steel, the invisible Minister for Transport? Catch a tram? Not likely in Belconnen.

A new pay-parking windfall would certainly help a new ACT Liberal government find the extra income it needs ("Libs to build 2500 carparks, cut commutes", canberratimes.com.au, September 15). New, heat trapping, carpark expanses would also enable the Liberals to prioritise them as locations for many of the 100,000 trees that would be planted annually under its "green space guarantee".

After a short stint in hospital I was sent home and into the arms of the Tuggeranong Community Nurses. Words cannot express the wonderful care I received, and am still receiving. Their knowledge is amazing. My trust in their judgement is unshakeable. Thank you so much you wonderful young women.

Re Richard Johnston's curious letter of September 15 urging the construction of West Basin project without giving any reason. This project is like London filling in the Serpentine or Vancouver filling in part of the bay adjacent to Stanley Park. It just wouldn't be done. Our government has no sense of what makes this city beautiful. That's one of the many reasons they should be thrown out.

What a great read in this week's Forum Opinion ("Time to admit defeat in Afghan war" by Jack Waterford and "Will we see a great Aussie realignment" by Crispin Hull, September 19, pages 26 and 27). Compulsory reading.

In her inaugural State of the Union Address, EU President Ursula von der Leyen said to the European Parliament, "more than 600,000 European citizens were stranded all over the world, the EU brought them home". It can't be too hard.

"Thrown" is the correct word to describe the Communication Minister's minimal $5 million in alms to sustain AAP as part of the "democratic infrastructure". The Coalition has little real interest in this as shown by the the slashing and burning of the national broadcaster. (AAP thrown $5 million lifeline in significant boost for regional media outlets, September 19, p11).

ACT voters are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Labor displays the smug arrogance of incumbency and rides roughshod over community interests. The Liberals are notable for superficiality, naivete, and policy incompetence. It seems to be a choice about which party will do the least damage? We deserve better.

Harry and Megan can do one very useful thing for all of the Commonwealth countries. They can bring down the monarchy and open the door to republicanism.

Congratulations to Caden Helmers on his first class coverage of the rugby in today's (Saturday's) paper.

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