Another planning disaster is in the making in Woden

The tipping point could well be the redevelopment of Borrowdale House, on the edge of the Town Square. While the owners have tried to soften the effect, the new Borrowdale will be a 20-to-24-storey segmented residential tower with only a narrow, dark and wind-blown channel separating its southern face from the existing 26-storey Lovett tower.

The fundamental problem lies not with the developers, but with the planners, and ultimately with the lack of effective political leadership of policy and administration in the planning field. Without a public-interest perspective, and the funding to support it, there can be no effective overall vision for Woden.

Canberra used to be a city renowned for its planning. In the past, this has meant that the infrastructure needed by citizens to live productive and convenient lives came first, not last. The incoming Labor-Greens government has an opportunity to uphold these values.

On October 2 Cotter hit 100 per cent and cascaded down its wall. Three days later Bendora hit 100 per cent and Googong, a late starter, jumped from 90 per cent on October 30 to 100 per cent three days later on November 2.

Corin is lagging on 94.63 per cent.

Can we get all four full at the same time? Come on, Corin, come on.

The ACT Labor-Greens government is to be applauded for committing to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years to 14 ("ACT government first Australian jurisdiction to commit to raise criminal age of responsibility", canberratimes.com.au, November 3).

The first step on the path to adult incarceration is youth (and child) detention. Any measure which can stop this tragic progression is a move in the right direction. This is particularly important for Indigenous children who are grossly over-represented in detention.

Further to your editorial "It's time to pay attention to the future" (canberratimes.com.au, November 1) unless the Morrison government uncovers its eyes and unplugs its ears whenever the words climate change are spoken, use of the word unprecedented will become a more common, if not an annual, occurrence.

This is especially the case with climate, weather, drought, floods or bushfires - none of which respects state boundaries.

If humanity is to avoid the worst of global warming, the Morrison government must join the rest of the world in taking strong and decisive climate change action. This includes phasing out the use of fossil fuels in favour of renewables, and reducing Australia's emissions much more than the present pitifully inadequate Paris target of 26 to 28 per cent (on 2005 levels) by 2030.

The tipping point is looming, and we are running out of time.

I hope Ian Warden has now finished with the subject of Alistair Coe ("Purring voters in Canberra's soft lap", November 1, p17).

I'm not a Liberal supporter but I hate to see any political candidate, particularly a young person, subjected to repeated personal attacks. Perhaps a career in party politics is "essentially a theatrical career" as Warden asserts, but politicians aren't obliged to reveal their religious beliefs publicly.

Many committed Christians hesitate to speak of their convictions until they feel they have earned the right and that the occasion is appropriate.

It's time to give Coe and his family some space.

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