Time to rethink stage 2B?

In his Fit the Bill column “Promising start to the new Assembly” (CW 14 November), Bill Stefaniak wrote “I wonder if stage 2B of the tram is one such (unworkable) policy he [Andrew Barr] will now be able to ditch if he feels that it should not be a priority as we simply can’t afford it. I hope he may still do that.”

If stage 2A of the tram is anything to go by, Barr should certainly forget about stage 2B – for a few years, at least. The 1.7km of stage 2A was projected to cost $1.47 billion. Judging by the current rate of progress, the cost will easily blow out to $1.5 billion or more.

The 10 km stage 2B would include a new bridge across Lake Burley Griffin and tunnels along the approaches to Parliament House. New bridges would be needed over State Circle and Capital Circle. Massive roadworks would be necessary to level the median of Adelaide Avenue beneath the Kent Street overpass. More levelling would be needed under the Cotter Road overpass.

Then there’s the seemingly insurmountable problem of the deep concrete drains at the 3-way intersection of Yarra Glen, Yamba Drive, and Melrose Drive.

I can’t see this costing less than $5 billion, and it could cost a lot more.

• Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Appalling Russian article

I was appalled that the article Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky discusses Ukraine, Western influence and Australia’s role in the ongoing conflict was published in Canberra Weekly, 7 November.

I understood that the Canberra Weekly aimed to write stories about local people, government, business, sport, issues and events. With coverage of topics of genuine interest to Canberra readers such as local and federal politics, wellbeing and fitness, gardening – and life! I do not see how Russian propaganda fits within these objectives.

I expect that Canberra Weekly will now interview the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko, to give him the opportunity to counter the propaganda from the Russian ambassador.  

I look forward to reading a Canberra Weekly article that details Mr Myroshnychenko’s reply.

• Susan N, Narrabundah

Porn and sex ed

A recent report shows that young children, usually male, are using violent online porn for their sex education.  I keep thinking perhaps if so many fundamentalist Christian groups and far-right politicians had been more supportive of sane, reasonable and appropriate sex education for ALL children and young people rather than their loud and fanatical opposition to the idea, then perhaps this would not be such a sad and disturbing situation?

• Doug Steley

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