There were 38 of us and we spent three hours on the island.

It is disappointing that even on this quite untravelled area of Port Stephens we extracted a significant amount of rubbish.

We took out approximately 15 cubic metres of rubbish in total – that’s two cement truck loads.

It comprised roughly 127 metres of mesh from oyster farming, 247 plastic drink bottles, 138 glass bottles and 393 aluminium cans.

Three life-jackets and numerous items from boats were collected – mats, hatches, and rope, lots of rope – 48 metres in fact.

 Among other things, there were 25 kilograms of styrofoam, a toilet seat and four rubber thongs.

The Marine Parks Association has received a small grant from Local Land Services and have enlisted the OCCI volunteers to go back to Bull Island for three more clean-ups over the coming months to see if there is a reduction in litter or a pattern emerging in where the rubbish is coming from.

Come on Australia, why is there STILL so much rubbish around?

 Do the right thing.

Jeannie Lawson

Clean-up Co-ordinator and President, OCCI

I'd appreciate it please, if someone qualified to do so, would explain to me why it is, that an "Australian resident", who needs only to have spent a total of 10 years (only five of which have to be in a solid period, the other five can be made up in fortnightly visits if they choose to do so), is entitled to receive an age pension once they reach the eligible age?

Surely our government can limit such payments to Australian citizens only?

At least ask people to commit to our country before we pay them for being here.

The age entitlement limits keep increasing, yet non-citizens, who may have contributed absolutely nothing to the revenue of the country, are entitled to receive an age pension?

You've guessed it, I'm a disgruntled, self-funded senior retiree, who's annoyed at finding my meagre savings (which are getting rubbish interest) disappearing fast.

All while I wait to become old enough to receive any sort of government assistance, despite having spent my entire post-school life, paying taxes.

Could we stop focussing on people's religious choices, and/or race, as our main topic of debate, and get back to addressing the practical issues for all Australian citizens please?

Lucy Joy

Medowie

Don’t let developers tell you how you should look after your town as they are only thinking of their profits.

If any of the councillors are not sure of what to do, I would suggest going up to the Nelson Bay Bowling Club for lunch or dinner.  

Then while sitting there look out at your beautiful town and imagine this beautiful view with high buildings around the place. 

It would never look the same again and once you say yes to one developer to build up and up, then You can’t say no to the next ones. 

Keep Nelson Bay looking beautiful.

The developers can buy and build, but only at four or five storeys high.

They can still make a profit, but maybe not the million dollar profits they want by ruining our town.

Debbie Thompson

Nelson Bay