Powerhouse extension
As part of the former industrial heartland of inner Sydney, White Bay power station would make an excellent adjunct to the Powerhouse Museum (”Powering debate for decades’‘, January 10). Why not install a selection of the artefacts held for some time in storage at Castle Hill or even consider creating a NSW version of Canberra’s Questacon? There is plenty of room and the building looks suitably archaic; perfect for displaying memories of what was once a working city before developers and blocks of flats took over. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Building disputes
Giving local councils back their old powers over building developments is not necessarily the best way forward in dealing with the persistent bad practices in the construction industry (”Councils want power to take on certifiers’‘, January 10). There is already legislation in place that, if pursued properly, could bring recalcitrant builders, certifiers and developers to heel.
In 2019 the NSW government gave us a Building Commissioner, yet his progress in cleaning up the building industry remains practically invisible to the average person. Then there is NSW Fair Trading. When it comes to building disputes it seems all Fair Trading is concerned about is negotiating an outcome that is quick and agreeable to all parties.
The Building Commissioner and NSW Fair Trading need to urgently start prosecuting building disputes in a more equitable manner and start banning certifiers from the industry after cancelling their accreditation if they are found to be inept or corrupt. Stewart Smith, Tea Gardens
Mandatory masks
Dominic Perrottet is effectively saying that if wearing masks works, we’ll stop doing it; if it doesn’t work, we’ll keep going (”Treasurer supports easing mask restrictions if cases continue to decline”, January 14). He should take a look at Taiwan which, despite its proximity to Wuhan and its decision not to lock down, has among the lowest rates of infection in the world. There, masks have been mandatory on public transport since February. If we do the same, we too can beat the virus permanently. If not, we will just beat it for a few weeks until the next inevitable flare-up. Fraser Rew, Redfern
Love my landline
Despite us having three phone sets hanging on walls in different rooms in our home, my children gave me a smartphone (Letters, January 10). I duly learned to text and email but decided I do not want to hear it ring and then have to clear the clutter on the kitchen table, dive deep into my handbag, hurry to the bedside table or wherever else I may have left it and then probably miss the call anyway. My handsets do not run away, hide or duck for cover under the daily paper. I’ve coined my own phrase for me – I’m a ”lanliphile” – and I’ll be sad when they take it away. Mavis Steele, Port Macquarie
Solar travel
My wife and I have an electric car (Letters, January 10). We’ve done about 20,000kms in it, almost entirely charged from rooftop solar at home. When we’ve been driving outside Sydney, we’ve used the NRMA fast chargers along the highways. Completely free, very much green, and quite viable, thanks.
Joel Joslin, Earlwood
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