We were going to get at least 12 gold medals at the Olympics. What happened? 

We counted the chickens before they were hatched, as we have got into the habit of doing. Never mind the lack of medals, all those who got to the Olympics are to be congratulated on having successfully progressed through all the qualifying stages, many thousand didn't make it. What of the future and the huge cost involved? 

Many are saying more money should be spent on education, health, transport and pensions etc, and rightly so. Sport must not become the be all and end all of our existence. Every time the Olympics is staged it gets further away from the original competition. We cannot deny that there are already regular world competitions for soccer, rugby, tennis and golf and these should be dropped, saving the expenses of hundreds of participants, and the infrastructure involved. The IOC needs to be careful that BMX doesn't develop into Formula 1 racing. What about marbles or Tiddly Winks?

Keith Knott

Raymond Terrace

James Page’s letter [Examiner, August 18] about the car park off Ocean Avenue, Anna Bay, requires clarification.

The car park is not closed nor is it a knee jerk reaction. The parking barrier has been shifted to mitigate long-term antisocial behavior in this public space. 

Antisocial behavior exhibited by some users of this car park has been a problem for locals for decades. As a 30 year resident, these problems existed even when both adjacent houses were permanently occupied. The residue for locals to clean up has included graffiti, drug paraphernalia and other rubbish. Since the parking barriers have been shifted, public access to this area has been maintained – as it should be. For those on foot, there is no difference. For those in cars, drivers are continuing to use the modified car park and have only to walk an additional 10 to 15 meters. The difference is that cars now park in a visible location that is lit at night. It follows the same access principle that has been in place at the western end of Ocean Avenue.

Andrew Searles

Anna Bay

Sincere gratitude to the hardworking volunteers of the Port Stephens Graffiti Action Team - thank you for all your great efforts in keeping our beautiful environment unspoiled.

If only the people responsible for the graffiti could use their time and efforts in as positive and constructive a manner as these remarkable volunteers. Then they would surely receive the public recognition that it appears they so desperately crave.

L Martin 

Nelson Bay

International and Domestic Tourism continues to be a major industry and income generator in the Port Stephens Region.

The low Australian Dollar makes inbound international tourism good value. These overseas visitors are coming to see the unique beauty that Mother Nature has on show which is called Eco Tourism.

On the land this includes our unique flora and fauna such as the kangaroo and koala and their habitat. Therefore we must protect the Goose that lays the Golden Egg.  

One land asset worth protecting and preserving is the 24 hectare Anna Bay/ Fishermans Bay Urban Growth-owned site which needs to be transferred to Tomaree National Park to be protected for future generations. When we expand Tomaree National Park we expand our asset base and therefore our tourism income generating potential into the future.

Stuart Benjamin

Anna Bay