As a potential buyer of a new vehicle it is very difficult at the present time as one cannot buy anything for love or money.

So for the council to procure a vehicle is in itself a small miracle and having to deal with a Port Macquarie dealership, is what one may have to do.

However, I would think that local councils would have access to the NSW State Government contract system where considerable savings are available, though whether a top spec Ford is on the list, I doubt it.

Further to that, I would also provide comment on the recent article on Sandy's Fish shop ('Say goodbye to Sandy's', Examiner, June 9) - this is the price of progress?

I observed the history of Penrith over the years - The Great Western Highway once passed through the centre of the town (many years ago when I was young) with congestion build up, the council then by-passed the centre with a bypass along the railway track.

All of the business folk then proceeded to build their outlets along the new bypass.

As that became a traffic jam the State Government built the M4 expressway.

The moral of the story is - don't allow business to establish on expressways.

Maybe Sandy's could find a spot on a new "layby" for travellers to use?

So you climate warriors got your way.

The Labor party is in power and now you've received your first power bills.

Because of alarmists you are now finding that our coal fired power stations are no longer being maintained and indeed are closing in exchange for the current favourite word 'renewables'.

It's OK for the billionaires to stand up and declare that there should be no more coal-fired power stations because they don't have to worry about the bills.

They can pay them but us pensioners can't.

Wake up Australia.

We need a combination of methods to make [our country] greener which, incidentally, adds up to diddly squat when you consider we as a nation emit 1.50 per cent of the world's emissions.

I cannot see the justification in the Mayor's purchase of an expensive new vehicle from outside the local area.

It must be remembered that Ryan Palmer was first elected as Mayor before the natural disasters, rising cost of living and COVID pandemic that people have had to endure.

Times and circumstances have changed.

Now we have many people in Port Stephens who are struggling to pay their bills, put food on the table, pay the rent and buy fuel.

People are also struggling with mental illness, depression and stress which are pushing local charities, support services, foodbanks, neighbourhood centres and medical services to the limit.

I believe that politicians and councillors enjoy plenty of spoils that go with the job.

As a retired woman who has worked all my life and raised a large family, it should be my 'right' to sit back, relax and enjoy life.

But I sacrifice some of that 'right' to do voluntary work in the community with Marine Rescue and Legacy.

I believe that Mayor Palmer would have earned more support if he had purchased a cheaper vehicle and used the remaining money to donate to organisations that would benefit the entire community, such as the Tomaree Hospital Auxiliary.

The auxiliary's volunteer members fundraise to purchase such items as mattresses, trolleys and curtains for the hospital and are certainly deserved of some extra funding.

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