“We know though, that the ACT government cares for those of us who live southside, so periodically high-order magicians are dispatched to solve the problem,” says letter writer HENRY MOULDS of Wanniassa.

This morning, as she does each morning, my dog walked me around the streets of Wanniassa.

Again, we noted the abominable state of the footpaths in that suburb. Cracked, completely broken, raised, sunken or simply weed-infested.

Each morning is less like a daily exercise and more like a cross-country competition.

We know though, that the ACT government cares for those of us who live southside, so periodically high-order magicians are dispatched to solve the problem.

In a government vehicle, a Grand Wizard, adorned in a high-visibility vest (an indication of the powerful magic about to be unleashed), arrives to wield a spray can of magic white paint.

The pavement is bedecked with mysterious ACToglyphs; dots, arrows and square brackets.

These symbols surrounding damaged pavement are obviously intended to ward off trips, falls or other calamities. The magic performed, the Grand Wizard departs, unlikely to be seen for another four years.

Unfortunately, years of Canberra weather cause these symbols to fade and the magic wanes.

As the government isn’t likely to actually fix the paths, perhaps they could at least apply new magic paint. Surely our rates could cover a couple of spray cans.

Henry Moulds, Wanniassa

Creek water ‘bottleneck’ threatens development 

I was a hydraulic engineer working for the Department of Works in January 1971 when a super cell thunderstorm 1-in-500-year event dumped over several hundreds of millimetres of rain in one hour, causing several people to tragically lose their lives.

The water in the Yarralumla Creek topped the Curtin/Hughes overpass over the creek as well over the culverts on Hindmarsh Drive; so you can imagine the devastation.

Unfortunately, the Ivy apartment complex is situated downstream of the confluence of the creek from Mawson and Isaacs so it bottlenecks just upstream from the second-level underground carpark of the Ivy.

Although the roundabout has been upgraded since 1971, the dimensions of the channels are the same as in 1971. In fact, the culverts were not blocked and the surge topped the roundabout by several metres. 

It doesn’t take much imagination to have a scenario in the current extreme climate events where, with all the built up development that did not exist in 1970, the floodwaters could previously spread over to the hospital etcetera would now bank up and possible double in height adjacent to the underground carpark and start flooding it, shorting out the security roller door and the lifts, so trapping the occupants (and the cars).

The carpark entry faces the confluence and is a little above embankment level. This scenario was clearly not contemplated in the original design.

To avoid this or at least minimise the potential disaster, I suggest that a battery operated barrage or caisson be constructed across the entry to the driveway of the Ivy underground carpark, which would be an excellent investment considering potentially about $10 million of cars being destroyed!

The potential flooding also impacts any planned development of the light rail and the proposed unit development north of the interchange.

Andy Stodulka, via email

Ultra-left Josh the public face?

Islamists leading the Woke by the nose is bad enough, but how did ultra-Left Josh Lees become the public face of the Palestinian Action Group?

Are all middle-class Woke comfortable with this wing of the cause? There’s evidence that autocratic Islamic countries can deliver prosperity, but The Socialist Alternative?

For everyone’s sake I hope it’s Josh’s protesting passion that landed him the gig and not his economic know-how.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

A ‘dishonest’ account of net zero

The ACT government’s legislated climate targets apply only to emissions “in the ACT.”

The Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment concluded that those emissions account for only six per cent of the ACT’s carbon footprint.

ACT Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Reports confirm that we have caused more than 50 million tonnes of local CO2e emissions since 1989.

Our target is “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT to achieve zero net emissions by 30 June 2045″.

By 2045 our net local emissions since 1990 will grow to about 70 million tonnes.

The government’s draft climate change strategy discussion paper dishonestly describes that 70 million tonnes as “net zero”.

Leon Arundell, Convenor, Climate Action Canberra, Downer

Trump disapproval rises among key demographics

Is it possible that unbeknownst to us all, the assassin’s bullet, diverted by President Trump’s ear, shot him in the foot instead, where it now stays, permanently lodged?

This may partly explain Trump’s ongoing unpredictable and erratic behaviour.

His threat on Greenland has severely weakened the 75-year-old NATO alliance, and further damaged major European trading deals.

The president and his allies continue to battle the Congress, the bureaucracy, universities, the courts and the media.

His armed militia, ICE, is guilty of gunning down and murdering two American citizens in full view of bystanders.

Recent US polls show Trump’s disapproval is on the rise among his key demographics: Hispanic Voters 76 per cent disapproval, Asian Voters 73 per cent disapproval, and voters aged 18-29, 69 per cent disapproval.

Only 66 per cent of Republicans believe Trump has the “mental fitness” needed to be president and only 42 per cent believe he acts ethically in office.

Meanwhile, Melania Trump’s foray on to “the big screen” has bombed dramatically, with her movie/documentary Melania being lambasted by critics.

Empire gave the documentary just one star, Variety called it “a cheeseball infomercial “and The Guardian “an elaborate piece of designer taxidermy”.

DJ Trump said he thought it was” really great”.

Melania director Brett Ratner’s career was derailed by sexual assault allegations in 2017. He denied the allegations and no criminal charges were filed.

Ratner also appears in recent unsealed Epstein files showing him with the disgraced financier and an unidentified woman.

The plot thickens.

Declan McGrath, via email

It was hard to digest the spin 

Hard to digest the carefully crafted reunification spin that the federal Liberal and Nationals leaders dished up to an already disbelieving public on February 8.

I wasn’t impressed by David Littleproud’s brazen yet desperate attempt to blame the prime minister and Labor for the Coalition parties’ break up and divisions. 

Unable to see how the application of more skimpy Band-Aids will restore trust in the Liberal Party while it kowtows to the tunnel-visioned, One Nation-leaning and overbearing National Party rump. 

Easy to imagine more young, urban and female voters being totally turned off the Liberal Party if it allows its very conservative, yet barely capable, right faction to grasp the reins and cosy up more closely to the newly emboldened Nationals (“Liberals desperate for a path out of purgatory”, citynews.com.au, February 10).

Concerned and disgusted still about how 12 months ago federal Labor, Liberals and Nationals conspired to pass legislation that makes it much harder for good quality, hard-working community-based independent candidates to stand for, and win elections in future.

Sue Dyer, Downer 

Plea to make future meals animal-free

Scientists say bird flu is now “completely out of control,” spreading across continents at an unprecedented scale, devastating wildlife, and – in the US – establishing itself in dairy cattle, creating the risk of igniting a human pandemic as early as this year.

Experts have been warning for years that animal agriculture creates the perfect conditions for viruses. Crowded barns, stressed bodies, weakened immune systems and constant human contact turn farms into factories for the next global health crisis. Bird flu is simply the latest proof.

Every factory farm increases the likelihood that a virus will adapt, reassort, and learn how to move efficiently into and between human bodies.

At the same time, the animals caught in this system – gentle cows, pigs, sheep and chickens – suffer intensely, treated as “products” instead of sentient beings who have families, feelings, and a will to live.

If we truly want to prevent the next pandemic – and live compassionately – we must address the disease incubators hiding in plain sight and stop raising animals for food. So please, make future meals animal-free.

Dr Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia, Sydney 

With renewables, it’s all about capacity

While Nick Standish’s arithmetic on the cost of nuclear power does not match up with much of the research (CN letters February 5), there is another common misconception about nuclear that may be just as important to look into: its capacity.

A traditional reactor has a capacity of around 1GW. The much-touted small modular reactor (SMR), not yet commercially available, has a generating capacity of around 300MW. How does this compare with our renewables?

The Clean Energy Regulator estimates that close to 7GW of renewable generation was added to Australia’s main grid in 2025. A record 7.5GW was added in 2024. 

By the time one nuclear reactor could be built in Australia, renewables will be supplying most of our electricity. 

As for safety, experts predict that given the number of nuclear reactors operating by 2050, the chances of a serious accident (human error) are extremely high.

I wouldn’t be in a hurry for one in my backyard; “impossible” meltdowns and leaks are one thing, toxic nuclear waste is also a critical problem humans have not solved.

Fiona Colin, Malvern East, Victoria

A wasted argument

Why is it that advocates of nuclear energy never mention the waste?

Bob Howden, via email

I agree, newsreaders need a chair

Ben Geeshon (letters, CN February wonders whether we need to have a “fund me” collection for a chair for our ABC newsreaders (letters, CN, February 5). I agree.

While it is heartening to see that Greg Jennet has bought a more fitting suit, I think a mix of standing and sitting would be more appropriate. 

Herman van de Brug, Holt