These spots will quickly turn into potholes as this road now carries enormous amounts of traffic and now requires urgent attention due to its construction some 20 years ago. To act now will save ratepayers enormous amounts of money for ongoing patch-up repairs, and the council would be able to walk away from a new road surface for the next 10 years.

Town Centre Circuit around Salamander Centre has numerous, sub-standard potholes needing repair as well, whereas Nelson Bay has new hot mix streets surrounding the CBD and three new hot mix carparks.

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As a retired inner-city-decaf-soy-latte drinker, I support the work of Climate Change Port Stephens (CAPS) ['Keep politics out of council' Examiner Letters, September 17].

A goal of net zero emissions for our council undertakings makes a lot of sense. Actions such as installing solar panels and batteries on council assets, hybrid or electric council vehicles, appropriate recycling schemes, etc. are not only good for the environment, but cheaper for us ratepayers in the long run.

A 100 per cent zero emissions goal is nonsense, but net zero emissions is a reasonable goal that will benefit all of us.

ALSO READ: CAPS supports school climate strike

With due respect to Frank Ward OAM ['Government priorities needed for aged care', Examiner Opinion, September 24] I believe that PM Scott Morrison has been doing a fairly good job in the current COVID-19 pandemic keeping Australia safe on all fronts.

I understand some may not agree with his visit to Tomago to introduce the energy policy encouraging investment to keep Australia self-sufficient for years to come, but hopefully it will stimulate jobs and economic recovery.

International trade and business with friendly countries are important to our economy, as we keep the so-called "multi-nationals" within Australian laws. The case of Westpac being fined $1.3 billion is a wake-up call to the unscrupulous. We will need post-pandemic jobs and economic growth to fund social services such as aged care in the long term.

The Aged Care Royal Commission is still sitting at the height of the pandemic focusing on future funding. Former federal treasurers have given evidence. The Morrison Government has already increased some funding while waiting for the final report on quality and safety. However, the interim report did point to some "unkind and uncaring" practices, while the death toll in Victoria, in light of 200,000 in the USA, is a timely reminder to us all.

ALSO SEE: Doors officially opened to koala sanctuary | photos

Congratulations to Ron Land and his band of volunteers on the achievement of the koala hospital and sanctuary (Examiner, September 24). After all the hard work and help from local and state governments, the group has highlighted what volunteering is all about. I hope the residents of Port Stephens get behind this great project.

ALSO READ: Letters to the Examiner: September 17

It is disturbing to see the Medowie 'white elephant' club surrounded by plantings of cheap and nasty rubbish. Not only do the plants create a dangerous base load of highly combustible material but in so doing, whoever has undertaken the planting has created a disgracefully ugly eyesore. Taxpayers and the people of Medowie deserve better.