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We do not need this CSG from Narrabri as there is a glut of gas with many tankers waiting to unload gas and nowhere to go. Also, the federal government wants us, on the east coast, to pay twice the price of any other country as there is no domestic reserve. More gas will not make it any cheaper for us. - Felicity Davis, Bayview

Is it our short electoral cycles that produce such pathetic short-termism in our own national and state policies? ("Business to PM: invest for sustainable revival", August 10). Science says urgently reduce carbon emissions for our very survival. Surely then, the only solution to the short-termism of the Narrabri gas proposal is to transform the national cabinet into a war cabinet, have federal and state government, opposition leaders and scientists all work together to fulfil our Paris climate commitments? Business is on side, the community is on side. Only our governments fear for their own short-term political survival, not the nation's. - Sue Young, Bensville

Stuart Ayres could become the minister for dam(n) stupidity ("Parks service blasts impact of raising Warragamba's wall", August 10). Not only will his Warragamba Dam project to raise the wall damage nature, but it will fail to protect the proliferating and vulnerable floodplain communities downstream. He needs to shut out the weasel words of property developers and consult some maps. Downstream of the dam are wild inflows from the Grose and Colo Rivers, coming from the mountains to flood the plains. The Nepean also enters the Warragamba River downstream of the dam, so raising it will not protect the Camden floodplain. It simultaneously will become more exposed to the risk of increased hard-surface flows, as the whole Macarthur region becomes urbanised. The Minister should also imagine this scenario from his seat in Penrith. The vast tarmacs of the new Badgery's Creek Airport and the associated extra mass of bitumen and concrete around industries and housing in the sub-catchments will dump a huge local flood upon it. The new dam wall, way upstream, does nothing for that. So dreaming on, the next engineering marvel could be to blast away those river-hugging sandstone cliffs downstream on the Hawkesbury. Without those pesky barriers, flood dispersal into the sea will be so efficient. The flattened landscape will be a developer's delight. - Sharyn Cullis, Oatley

Amanda Vanstone would be wise to advise our Liberal/National government of her tip that people shouldn't live downstream from a dam in China ("We don't have to play bully game", August 10). Raising the Warragamba Dam wall clears the floodplain downstream, making land available to build houses. My tip is: do not live downstream from Warragamba Dam. Floodplains are so named because they flood. - Suzanne Wicks, Potts Point

"The community needs to have a clear understanding of the direct impacts of the proposal," the National Parks and Wildlife Service review rightly stated, but sadly it seems that this would not have happened had it not been for leaked information reported by the Herald. As so often occurs, it seems likely from Peter Hannam's article that once again money (for developers) will trump environmental protection at every turn. - Bridget Wilcken, Mosman

After Warragamba Dam was built most of Burragorang Valley was lost forever. Little remains but what is amazing is that two extraordinarily beautiful river systems the Coxs and the Kowmung still run in what remains of the nearby valleys. These will be flooded and lost forever if the dam wall is raised. We need to unite in outrage to stop the raising of the dam wall. Saying sorry when it's too late will never be able to bring back this the sacred world hertiage site and its beautiful rivers. - Gai Lloyd, Cammeray

If we cant point the finger at Planning Minister Rob Stokes for Sydneys planning, who can we blame ("Dont blame planning for woes: Stokes", August 10)? Id suggest Mr Stokes take a trip to Singapore, as I did recently, to witness planned high-rise apartments, set in tropical gardens with plenty of space between them. Compare this with the so-called planning that has resulted in miscellaneous tower apartments (often shoddily constructed) heaped almost on top of each other. Is this what our Planning Minister calls planning? Now we have Stokes latest initiative, the missing middle. Cute name but a nasty, community-dividing measure in which a homeowner is persuaded by a rapacious developer to put four dwellings on a suburban block, destroying the streetscape, reducing green coverage, exacerbating parking problems and over-building on the site, leaving his neighbours to pay the price for his miserable profit. It makes you want to cry for our beloved city. - David Catchlove, Newport

It is pleasing to finally hear Stokes admit that high-rise apartments come with a "massive potential cost to everyone else" in NSW from higher urban density, heritage impacts and the need to retrofit utilities, hospitals and schools. Growth is the disease masquerading as the cure. Its time to stop overdevelopment and start planning a sustainable Australia that is better, not bigger. - William Bourke, Wollstonecraft

It is unfortunate that universities such as UTS will be losing income as a result of the fall in international student enrolments ("UTS fears decline in student numbers could cost 500 jobs", August 10). However, there is an anomaly in this claim in light of the government's intention to reduce the cost of degrees such as nursing in order to attract more students. If student numbers in nursing increase as a result of the government's sweetener, does UTS plan to retain staff to teach them, or can nursing students continue to be taught by casual, often inexperienced staff who are cheaper to employ? What about student-to-lecturer ratios? If UTS is most concerned about its losses of up to $200 million, then it is a corporation and no longer a university. - Patricia Farrar, Concord

Its not so much our sense of shared burden starting to fray ("Great test of our togetherness", August 10) but recognising the unequal burden Victorians are shouldering right now. Politicians may snipe from the sidelines but we should reject the idea that Victoria has let the side down. Yes, some states are in much better shape and good luck to them. Were not offended by their hard border closures. But we should be sending Victorians, including their embattled Premier, a big virtual hug. We do appreciate the sacrifices they are all making, particularly healthcare workers, more than 1000 of whom have contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty. Each deserves a medal from a grateful nation. - Margaret Johnston, Paddington

If, like me, you hanker to have faith in a politician, watch Jacinda Arderns election campaign launch speech. In a packed town hall with no social distancing and no masks (thanks to 100 days with no community transmission), Ms Ardern speaks eloquently and passionately without notes. She makes more sense in one speech than anything I have heard recently from our state or federal leaders. - Graham Cochrane, Balmain

I have fond memories of Eric's Seafood Cafe at Crows Nest (Letters, August 10). Not only was it my favourite stop on the way home from school (two potato scallops for 3d) but, as the location of many fish 'n' chips-fuelled committee meetings, it can be credited as one of the birthplaces of FM radio in Australia, in 1974 (2MBS-FM, now Fine Music Sydney). - David James, Russell Lea

Erics Seafood Cafe? Be still my beating heart (and stomach). Fresh scallops, grilled barramundi, chunky chips and a decent riesling. Thus refreshed and fortified, we young tearaways would return from lunch to the 2pm This Day Tonight production meeting ready to do battle with timid producers and our repressive ABC management. Erics wonderful meals and hospitality were unsung heroes in that memorable era of current affairs television. - David Salter, Hunters Hill

One wonders if Dominic Perrottet has ever heard of the Westminster convention of ministerial responsibility (Letters, August 10). As a conservative, isn't he supposed to be the trustee of time-honoured and valued mores and codes of conduct? More and more it seems in this country politicians of the right seem to have the palsied hand of Trumpism on them. Admit nothing, apologise for nothing and take responsibility for nothing. Well, it works for Donald Trump, I suppose. Maybe. - Peter Spencer, Glebe

It beggars belief that our frontline healthcare staff are running short of essential equipment ("Mask use limited for one in five doctors, nurses", August 10). The last thing they need is number-crunchers doing an Ebenezer Scrooge and tut-tutting at the amount of PPE that is being used. - Genevieve Milton, Newtown

I welcome the article by Sarah Ayoub with its many interesting details about Lebanese Australians ("Chance to extend hand of comfort to Lebanese", August 10). In our neighbourhood, we have Lebanese Australian extended families living next door and directly opposite. They were all here before we moved in, and from our very first day, they welcomed us warmly and generously. They are all truly our neighbours. In their grief and trauma, I hope that we may be the kind of neighbours that they have been to us. - Susan Emeleus, Ermington

$15 billion to rebuild Beirut? That's the same price as building two road tunnels from Rozelle to Balgowlah. Really? And we're still waiting on the business case as to why two road tunnels were assessed to be the most effective option to reduce congestion and travel time over all other alternatives. - Kristina Dodds, Northbridge

When Volvo developed the three-point car seat belt in 1959, it realised the life-saving potential far outweighed any issue of a patent and shared the idea with the world. Let us hope that whoever comes up with COVID-19 vaccine will be as philanthropic. - Michele Thomas, Mollymook Beach

Never mind the Jaffas (Letters, August 10). I remember going to see The Ten Commandments at the Toonie (Toongabbie) Rocket. After half an hour, the movie was stopped so staff could scrape all the chewing gum missiles from the screen, and management warned that if it happened again they'd call the whole session off. - Mickey Pragnell, Kiama

You could get a lot with threepence at the flicks in the 1950s. Unfortunately, all those Fantales, Jaffas, Minties and Choo-Choo bars have proved very profitable for my dentists over the years. - Tony Everett, Wareemba

There were three cinemas in Bankstown in the 1940s: the Regent, which I attended with my grandparents to watch a double-bill of serious, old movies and to take part in community singing with a bouncing ball over the words on screen; the upmarket Civic, where the latest releases were shown; and the Jewel, where, when sport was washed out, I could join the raucous Saturday arvo Jaffa-rollers to watch westerns and Bulldog Drummond serials. - Ray Alexander, Moss Vale

Rick Johnstons recollection of staying seated during the national anthem (Letters, August 10) reminds me of my first venture into a London movie theatre about a week after arriving from Australia in 1966. When God Save the Queen was played, in spite of my republican inclinations, I automatically stood, alone amongst the English patrons who remained seated while at least half lit up their cigarettes. - Brian Milton, Avalon

While we stood for the national anthem at the Capitol Theatre, Tamworth, in the 1950s, the teenage girls and boys readied themselves psychologically for a session of slap-and-tickle. (For the benefit of your younger readers, slap and tickle meant kissing and cuddling.) - Paul Hunt, Engadine

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This recovery will require more than fossilised ideas - Sydney Morning Herald