Floating a bad idea

When a developer floats the idea to build housing on a floodplain, it’s best to factor in how well the future residents may need to float too (“Hundreds of homes to be built on floodplain”, February 1). Nature and the landscape have ways to remain “buoyant” despite the travails of extremes in weather and climatic events. Not always so with the human the abode. In simple planning terminology, a plain is often an ideal location to overlay suburbs. A caveat to this easy-fix home installation, is that if the word plain is prefixed by flood, you will have not wanted to come down in the last shower to gauge the inherent rising risks of such a proposal. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

As a long-time resident of the Hawkesbury area and having experienced numerous floods over the years, I find it incomprehensible that developers are still utilising floodplains to build on. This despite all the evidence available about climate change impacts on rain/flood/storm events and increasing urban runoff, by volume and velocity. It seems that there is a complete lack of will by our politicians to address the serious problems we face around housing and environmental risk. With that in mind, perhaps it’s time to have the insurance sector, along with the banking sector, to provide some guidance around premiums and interest rates they will apply for homeowners in these types of development areas. We already know many people can’t afford insurance for their property and regardless of platitudes the banks will always hold the home owner liable for any debt. It is simply unconscionable for this cavalier approach to housing developments to continue as we know that after every major flood all the stakeholders blame everyone else and demand government assistance, whilst most of the insurers either walk away, dissemble over liability or price themselves out of the market. How simple would it be to identify many of these costs before development? That would be a simple “factor” to help determine where these developments go. Bernard Stever, Richmond

An Insurance Council of Australia spokeswoman states, “there are already more than 240 000 homes in Australia that face a severe to extreme risk of flooding, we should not be adding to this”, regarding the NSW government decision to approve the building of 1000 new homes on a floodplain. Two dictionary definitions sum up this decision. Floodplain: “a trait of low-lying ground which is periodically flooded by a river or creek”, and “unintelligent, foolish”. This decision could cost lives and is setting our state up for a very likely future disaster. John Cotterill, Kingsford

While busy committing to buy back homes in flood-prone Lismore the government is giving the green light to a mass housing development at Marsden Park North, rated Sydney’s most flood-prone area. Who will insure these properties? Will taxpayers have to provide relocation assistance when the inevitable floods occur, not to mention the physical and psychological effects of losing all to flood damage? Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Morrison off mark

Jacqueline Maley asks the right questions of Scott Morrison’s words spoken in Israel (“Morrison didn’t hold a hose, but is still happy to fan flames remotely”, February 1), apparently blaming Australian Muslims for the actions of two men at Bondi. Morrison, as usual, is way off the mark and his selective blaming is reminiscent of his ham fisted but memorable stint as our least illustrious prime minister. Maley led with Morrison’s worst efforts as PM, which always make me shudder. Morrison’s more memorable words since he left his non-hose holding role of many ministries have been pronounced outside this country, and only reported back to us. What was he doing in Israel? There is an adage from a master storyteller, “let those without guilt cast the first stone”. Morrison may have heard that one, but hasn’t internalised it. Morrison may have been forgiven by some for not holding a hose, however, as the man who gave life to robo-debt, he fails to accept an ounce of culpability. Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Jacqueline Maley has excelled herself. Such a clear expose of the harm that political dog whistling can cause. Did we learn nothing about the dishonesty of Children Overboard? I entirely agree with her that the only way forward is for people of moderation to raise their voices and hold the line. Lynne Poleson, Kingsford

It was only a matter of time before Scott Morrison forgot he wanted to be like Julia Gillard in his post-PM conduct. Jacqueline Maley’s comments on his unhelpful contribution to the post-Bondi political debate show his inability to maintain that pledge. Vicky Marquis, Glebe

False medical records

As a retired doctor, I am horrified at the thought that a colleague would falsify vaccination records (“Parents paying to falsify vaccine records”, February 1). Two pillars of our profession are, do no harm and practise evidence-based medicine. By completing false documentation for unvaccinated children to enter pre-school and therefore exposing other children to potential lethal illness and additionally, reducing herd immunity, these health practitioners are contravening both of these established tenets. If found to have acted in this grossly unprofessional and criminal manner, I believe they should be struck off and face criminal charges. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Cat act now

Cats can be wonderful pets when owners act responsible and keep them inside to protect them from harm or doing harm (“Look what 1.5 million extra pet cats dragged in”. February 1). Some owners knowing the harm cause to neighbours and our environment choose to disrespect this beautiful country we have the fortune to occupy, and thus is when our government needs to step in to amend the Companion Animals Act, requiring all pets be confined to their properties other than when under control. Confinement for dogs over many decades has shown less harm to residents and our environment. We need our governments to act now. Brian McDonald, Willoughby

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