This time I'm hoping to be more knowledgeable about how votes are allocated to candidates.

After the previous election I was astonished to learn that one candidate could be elected with only 20 votes when another long-serving candidate in the same ward could miss out with 280 votes.

I am resolved to be better prepared this September after following the behaviour of the current council aided by what people call a 'voting bloc'.

Maybe the Examiner could help in uncovering exactly what 'tickets' are, and also 'groups' so innocents like me can pre-empt what my vote may actually mean.

The Mayor, Cr Ryan Palmer, has listened to the concerns of the community and intervened in putting on hold the proposed destruction of the Little Beach amenities block.

The Examiner played an important role in this matter by highlighting the objections of residents and ensuring that the issue received prominence.

I believe it is a worrying trend that the current council policy is not to provide public changing facilities in new amenities buildings.

The council will now review the concept design and hopefully ensure a new Little Beach amenities block meets with the community's expectations on what is an iconic site on one of Port Stephens' most beautiful beaches.

We have recently moved to Shoal Bay and on a recent afternoon walk, my partner and I ventured down to the southern end of Fingal Beach.

We were disgusted to see [estimated] thousands of live fish being dragged up the beach in nets by people driving utes. We found it a revolting and cruel spectacle to see and we left immediately.

We had observed these same utes driving up the beach the day before and wondered what they were up to - they seemingly had no signage on their vehicles and no flashing lights or warning signs for adults and children walking on the beach at the time.

Are people aware of this activity and have these people got permits to conduct what is, in my opinion, reckless driving and slaughter on this beautiful beach?

This is not the sort of activity that

individuals and families want to look at.

Is this the story we would like people to mention to others who might be considering a holiday up here?

Please enlighten me as to why this would be allowed?

Even for a 'Medowie boom time' (front page, Examiner, April 15), the proposed set of $4.5m traffic lights on Medowie Road is arguably not a sign of progress, unless a business case has been established taken into accounts of present and future traffic flows, congestion, pedestrian safety and other road users.

Otherwise the money would better be spent on much needed community infrastructure to benefit the new school, the students and parents, and the anticipated growth of Medowie - a place of tall trees, no more.

We reside in Sylvan Avenue, Medowie and earlier this month, on April 15, my bin was full of garden waste but there was a lot that wouldn't fit.

I intended to keep it till next week but the driver picked it all up and cleared the lot. Thanks mate much appreciated.

Full sail ahead for huge 2021 Sail Port Stephens fleet

Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group desperate for more volunteers

Need for more temporary housing in Port Stephens