Bridge over troubled water
Referring to 'Disaster waiting to happen' (Port Stephens Examiner, P3, April 1), one does not have to be an environmental scientist to know that the Mambo Wetlands is a natural connection to the tidal waters of Port Stephens since time began.
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Building Foreshore Drive and the culvert was a severe restriction to the free flowing of the two bodies of water, specially during stormy weathers.
At this stage the suggestion to build a bridge over the troubled water is a reasonable one.
However, one has to be a well qualified bridge engineer to design and build that bridge.
Often I am mystified by reports that "a council spokesperson" (sic) said that planning is on hand to do such and such. No identified person ever take responsibility, and accountability, for what's said to happen.
Ernest To, Medowie
Letter of thanks
A short note of thanks to all emergency services personnel and local volunteers for their work during the recent one-in-100-year storm event. A fantastic effort.
Also many thanks to those courteous drivers on Port Stephens Drive who give way to residents trying to turn right when exiting the Horizons residential estate.
This is a very tricky exercise with the increased traffic from various road closures.
Your courtesy is greatly appreciated.
Max Pride, Salamander Bay
The reproductive crisis
A new report by Shanna Swan, an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist in New York, has found that sperm counts have dropped almost 60 per cent since 1973, and following the current trajectory, sperm counts could reach zero by 2045.
In some parts of the world, the average twentysomething woman today is less fertile than her grandmother was at 35.
Not only that, the report has also found that these chemicals are also shrinking penis size and volume of the testes.
The chemicals to blame for the reproductive crisis are found in everything from plastic containers and food wrapping, waterproof clothing, fragrances in cleaning products, soaps, shampoos, electronics and carpeting.
Some of the chemicals are known as "forever chemicals" as they don't break down in the environment or in the human body, they just accumulate, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.
An average person could be ingesting the equivalent of a credit card's worth of plastic each week.
Alisha Onslow, Raymond Terrace
Holiday highlights extension need
Planning for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace started in 2004 and we were told it is a critical link in the National Land Transport Network.
Millions of dollars have been expended, says the RMS, and what have we got for our money? Delay after delay. Not a strip of M1 concrete has been laid nor a hole dug for the piers to support a flood free roadway.
Seventeen years has passed and the congestion on the Hexham Bridge grows each year bringing traffic to a standstill. And the politicians crowe that we have a divided highway from Sydney to Brisbane.
Meanwhile, the RMS has craftily moved this project from the Pacific Highway Project listings but continue to say its a critical link being the busiest transport link in Australia.
It was projected to be delivered in 2016.
Pull the other one.
Ken Myers, Asquith
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