The State Government's initiative in 'Revitalising Newcastle' (revitalisingnewcastle.nsw.gov.au) will significantly impact on Port Stephens even without a merger. 

The vision of the Inter-agency Committee for Newcastle, is innovative and inspiring.

Many will applaud the project of building 30 affordable houses in the CBD, which would not be difficult to be made accessible and suitable for the aged and disabled.

Others will appreciate the light rail and cycleway alongside, both of which may, some would hope, eventually  go all the way to the airport.

Revitalising the city is exciting, and will establish Newcastle as the capital city of the region. It's a vision splendid.

The future development of the city will significantly impact on the city's neighbours, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and others.

As for Port Stephens, the Newcastle Airport and the Defence industries in Williamtown, the manufacturing industries in  Heatherbrae and Tomago, the satellite town Medowie, the Tomaree tourist towns and others, will be affected in many ways.

There will be commercial and financial benefits if community infrastructure, industries and businesses can cope with the increasing activities.

In light of Revitalising Newcastle, one may well ask what is the vision of the 'fit for the future' council for Port Stephens?

Ernest To

Medowie

FIFTY years ago it was known that eliminating  "impact points" at intersections made traffic much more safe.

The best way to eliminate impact points at the [Salamander Bay] McDonald’s and [Salamander Shopping Centre] entry roads is to eliminate right hand turns across approaching traffic.

 This is done by turning left to the existing two large roundabouts on Bagnalls Beach AND closing entry through both median strips.

The only problem with this is some drivers may never realise they can no longer turn right through the median strips ever again.

The extremely dangerous confusion of whether a car is turning left into the mall or left into the service station can be eliminated by ripping up the footpath and adding a third lane for mall only left hand turns.

Then traffic in the reinstated kerb-through lane would mean a car indicating a left turn must be going to the service station. 

  Six impact points are eliminated and a complicated give way sign is eliminated.

 It’s simple town planning.

 Jon Sherwin

Nelson Bay.

With all the billions of dollars being spent in the inner city and western suburbs of Sydney, the Premier of NSW and our elected representatives should spare a thought for the residents of Port Stephens whose needs are a bypass road from Nelson Bay to Fingal Bay, upgraded facilities to [Tomaree Community Hospital] and upgraded patient transport services for the elderly and disabled.

The list goes on so what about a fair go?

We pay taxes also.

Gerry Mohan

Shoal Bay

Is Nelson Bay going to be developed by what the developers and our elected council appear to want with towers seven to eight stories high?

Or will Nelson Bay’s resident majority get what they wish for, no more than five stories high?

Long live democracy.

George Allen

Nelson Bay