Person 1. "Wow, there must be a council election coming!"

Person 2. "Why?

Person 1. "There's a council machine sweeping the streets out there!"

Person 2. "Really? That doesn't happen very often. What about the potholes?

Person 1. "They went around them, but council's building a new shed in Boyd Oval"

Person 2. "Good job! So it takes an election to replace that old shed."

Person 1. "An Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program funding of $1m plus!"

Person 2. "Thankyou, but what about the potholes in the local roads?"

Then, it's time to checkout.

How lucky we are here in Port Stephens, from home or project maintenance, our local maintenance and builders are first class.

We rarely hear of shoddy workmanship or overcharging for their work.

At Harbourside Haven we have engaged local contractors for all our refurbishment work because of the quality of their work and honesty. In these current times support local labour and avoid those outside.

What's the difference between Port Stephens roads and a packet of Cigarettes?

There is more tar in a packet of cigarettes.

boom, tish.

Where can I swim?

They can close our beaches, close our rivers, lakes and pools but they can't close our potholes. Ah, at least I've found a place to to take a dip.

I've lived in The Terrace 46 years and not once in my life have I ever heard it called Ray Tay. We live in a clown world.

The story of electricity supply is one of manipulation of the market, i.e.us, the consumers.

The first step was to remove the monopoly on services, previously provided for free, and give it to network providers like Ausgrid etc,who would supply wiring from the street poles or underground services and the metering, claiming this will reduce the cost for the consumer.

We the consumers now pay to have this work done. The result is increased cost for the consumer.

The second step was to demonise coal generated electricity, resulting in steady closures of coal power stations. The result an increase in cost for the consumer.

The third step was to introduce so-called renewable (solar, wind) generation alternatives which are heavily subsidised by rebates. The result was increased cost for the consumer.

The fourth step was to encourage installation rebates for these systems and offer returns for supply back into the network. The result, increased cost for the consumer.

The fifth step was to get consumers looking to reduce their costs to take up solar panel installations and feed back to the network.

The problem, oversupply during daylight hours to the network.

The solution, reduce the net feedback rate to encourage consumers to install batteries which consumers have not been taking up.

The next solution, reduce the net feedback rate again to encourage battery uptake. The result, increased cost for the consumer.

The story will undoubtedly continue.