Why Sydney’s best minds should be looking at heritage buildings

Yet another significant part of Parramatta’s history is at risk of being compromised or erased (“Apartment plan threatens landmark’s heritage status” July 21). Allowing developers to pursue planning matters, like rezoning, that favour enlarging their prospective DA’s envelopes, is pure folly. This is the remit of public city designers, not made by those whose decisions might favour private interests. A prospective nominee for World Heritage Listing demands the best public city design minds gather to determine the site’s most appropriate outcome. Preserving our built heritage must rise above contemporary political dilemmas like the current housing shortage. That is, should we want to retain remnants of our national story to reflect upon, enjoy and learn from. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why

To uphold the visual curtilage of the Women’s Factory it would be hoped that this city has the town planning and architectural acumen to accommodate the apartments of the proposed nearby 22 storey block over several sites through the likes of rezoning availabilities, airspace trade-offs, planning concessions and joint corporate/ government development ventures. Perhaps a series of terraces rather than one tower? The built heritage of Parramatta in such a location as this ,requires a level of fine-tuning that caters for future needs whist safeguarding the quality of that future. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Serious threat

Parnell Palme McGuinness is rather generous in her assessment of US vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance (“A jump to the left, a step to the right”, July 21). However, she overlooks an important aspect of Vance’s stance. Vance is a climate change sceptic, an ardent supporter of the US fossil fuel industry, a critic of renewable energy and electric vehicles. A Trump–Vance leadership team is a serious threat to America, and possibly the world. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin (ACT)

The argument by McGuinness seems pretty confused. People of the left that I know are happy to barrack for both equity and equality. I would think Trump doesn’t even care about the distinction of left and right politics. Forget the intellectual stuff. It’s more like trying to raise his credulity by having someone with the same background as his working-class supporters next to him. Ivan Ajduk, Rose Bay

Strategy ideas

Polls here are showing an ascendant Peter Dutton (“Can Peter Dutton win the battle of the battlers”, July 21). Despite potentially damaging policies on issues like nuclear power and climate change, Dutton is able to hammer a culpable ALP on CMFEU activity and is making headway on what matters most to many voters: cost-of-living problems. Though Jim Chalmers frequently argues that Labor is doing much to alleviate this, if the ALP is to be re-elected it must convince swinging voters it is better able to improve their daily lot. This means more emphasis on matters like housing, renting, food costs and education, and less on issues many might support but consider peripheral to their prime concern. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

Margot Saville reads the political tea leaves on whether Donald Trump in the US and Peter Dutton here can take the working-class vote away from the Democrats in the US and from Labor here. She documents the seismic shifts in political allegiances around the world, the way the hard right is capitalising on it and the difficulty parties of the left have in understanding it. All this is happening when for the first time in human history man has the power to end human life through a nuclear war, through climate change, and even perhaps eventually, more importantly, through the dangers of the internet, social media, and AI, which are doing their best to make truth passé. Towards the end of my life I would like to feel hope which sometimes seems in short supply. But Saville identifies middle-class women as replacing working-class votes for centre-left candidates. Women’s major role throughout history has been nurturing children. That should give them an even bigger say in getting us out of this mess. Gary Barnes, Mosman

Protect elderly

There is no excuse for “inheritance impatience” (“New push to end elder abuse”, July 21). Many elderly have spent their lives working hard building a life for themselves and their families, often sacrificing enjoyment for themselves for a future for all. They have already given a great deal, only to have the next generation want more. They must not only be protected by families and authorities, they must be honoured and cherished. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Big question

Great article on Torrie Lewis ( “I don’t just want to be an Olympian, I want to be a successful one”, July 21) but Fitzy leaves us hanging: did she find her lost bag at the airport? Allan Kreuiter, Roseville

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