We must maintain rock pools to preserve Sydney’s history

The many rock pools that have survived for decades along the NSW coastline are an iconic reminder of times past as well as an essential part of our present and future coastal communities (“Swimmers, watch out for crumbling pools”, February 25). Community members meet early in the morning, often before dawn, and throughout the day to swim laps, converse and allow friendships to flourish. All without paying a cent. Not only must the pool structures be maintained, reconstruction must be carefully planned to make no mistakes in tidal flush-outs and seaweed minimisation. Our forebears knew and understood the currents and wave pattern and built accordingly. We must insist their knowledge is utilised for best possible reconstruction. Mistakes have been made in our area in the past, with dire circumstances and the pools left smelly with weed and dangerously unswimmable as a result. Our ocean pools must be maintained as an essential part of our history and a memory to those many who built this country before us.Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Swimmers have complained about the condition of the Palm Beach pool.

Bats privilege

Rose Bay residents are complaining about the mess made by flying foxes (“Flying foxes, neighbours from hell, are driving us batty”, February 25). Here in Rozelle, we have bats visiting the large fig trees a couple of times a year and yes, they do make a mess. It’s no more than the jacarandas and deciduous trees that line our streets. We love their chatter and the kookaburras that might wake us at 4am, the koel calling day and night for a mate and possums running across the roof. All this is just a few kilometres from the CBD. It’s a privilege to have such wildlife all around us in a big city. The rain washes away all the figs and droppings. Leave the bats alone.Leigh Sutherland, Rozelle

Alarm bells

With the seemingly increasing issue of child obesity in this country, reducing the amount of physical activity children partake in seems counterproductive (“Schools axing weekly sport can’t get a fare go on buses”, February 25). When the previous Liberal government started privatising public transport the alarm bells started to ring, but I don’t recall anyone predicting one of the outcomes of privatisation would be the reduction of interschool sport. Prue Car may well hope for more funding for public schools, but unfortunately, her requests could fall on deaf ears. On the other side of the coin, students from a nearby private school are transported by their own fleet of buses to parks for sport. The gap just keeps on widening.Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

Twilight age

The slow but relentless evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria was predicted in the early days of antibiotic development, but the danger to human health has been insufficient to prevent their overuse in livestock (“The search for superbugs lurking”, February 25). We are now in the twilight of the antibiotic age where practically every bacterial infection could be cured. The future could be grim where even a minor cut could have lethal consequences. It is essential that every possible means of countering antibiotic resistance is employed. Livestock must not be fed antibiotics regularly to promote growth. People must not take antibiotics for simple viral infections. If big pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to fund development of new antibiotics, governments worldwide must provide the funding. Finally, it is time, for various reasons including reducing greenhouse emissions, that we all consumed far less meat.Geoff Harding, Chatswood

Medicare smarts

As a GP in the Cook electorate I’m aware of large clinics in this area ceasing to bulk bill (“Bulk-billing GP clinics disappear”, February 25). It’s not surprising as the government’s tripled bulk billing incentive only represents an extra $14 in urban settings and only applies to select patients. The small rise in bulk billing rates after this was introduced was in rural areas where they get nearly $30 more. Cleanbill’s study finds an average gap fee of $41.42 nationally. Most GPs accept losses of $30 to $60, even with incentive payments, if they bulk bill a consult. Multiply that by 30 consults for the day and they’ve lost $900 to $2700. Massive funding is needed with city and rural incentives matched. Smarter use of Medicare would also help – GPs are so tired of asking for a vaccination rebate for their nurses. We don’t need new clinics full of unsupported nurses we need better support for the practice nurses we already work closely with.Lucy France, Cronulla

Labor has always been fiercely protective about free medical care but apparently not anymore.Paul Haege, Darling Point

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