Pool discussions, footy finals fever and roadworks disgrace | Letters to the editor

Community consultation needs to come before decisions, not after, and hopefully the QPRC Administrator and Administration will remember this.

It is particularly important while there is no elected or effective community representation.

Former Palerang councillor Peter Marshall, Captains Flat

September is the month of grand finals for Rugby League and Australian Rules.

These two enormously successful games boast a national championship competition and devote considerable resources and effort to promoting and developing their game at the international level.

Although the structure, format and execution of the games are different there are many common elements.

For one, the leather ball used is oval. 

There is often aggressive physical contact between the fit, strong and often very large combatants. 

And the games are fast, continuous and high scoring in comparison to most other field team sports.

Hand in hand with these things is the likelihood of injury which can vary from minor cuts, scratches and bruises to the more serious head and spinal trauma.

Both codes in recent years have made rule changes in an attempt to mitigate against these risks – but even ignoring and flagrant disregard for the rules, unforeseen circumstances can result in disaster.

The NRL and AFL have both also been plagued by scandals concerning match fixing, salary cap breaches, recreational and performance enhancing drug abuse and unacceptable player behaviour.  

Foremost in igniting the player behaviour problems is the so-called Aussie bloke culture. 

Far too often this spills over into drunkenness, violence or disrespect to women, racism and other behaviour that is offensive to the wider community.

Countering these problems will ultimately determine if the games can thrive or slip quietly into oblivion.

With the future of the games depending on the recruitment of junior players to learn the fundamentals and basic skills of the game, solutions have to be found.

Otherwise, it is more than likely that mothers who will be aware of the risks of serious injury and the fostering of unacceptable attitudes and behaviour in their boys and girls will encourage or direct them to other more healthy forms of sport.

Both these forms of footy currently enjoy great public support. They also showcase Australian sporting talent on the world stage.  It would be a shame if either of these were diminished through inaction.

Kevin Chamberlain, Queanbeyan

The way the intersection upgrade at Cooma St / Barracks Flat Drive is being handled is absolutely shocking.

Temporary lane controls are very unsafe. On Wednesday, August 24 there were such massive potholes left that cars were left to literally smash their way through. 

Even some of the neighbours were out on the street trying to warn drivers before they hit it - the usual posted 40 kilometres an hour is way too fast. 

The project is taking way too long and the contractor seems to have no clue how to handle the traffic safely during construction. 

One neighbour called the police it was so obviously unsafe to be told "sorry we cant do anything, it is the council’s problem".

I also know of at least two drivers that have seriously damaged their vehicles in recent weeks - both hit a grey concrete island that was virtually impossible to see in the early hours and that the lane controls basically steered them towards.

M Urquhart, Karabah