If this vote goes ahead, it would allow development applications that vary from legislation and compliance by more than 10% to be passed by council staff without councillors and the community knowing about it.

It has the potential to allow inappropriate development occurring and councillors and the community would be none the wiser.

Hundreds of development applications have been passed and processed by council in the past year. Only a small number (27) have varied by 10% to trigger a review by elected councillors.

Most of these 27 have been ticked off as there have been legitimate reasons for the variation (for example, an unusual block orientation). Negotiation between developers and neighbours has resolved other applications.

I don’t pretend to know of all the complexities of planning, developing and building, but development has to be appropriate and respect the community and natural environment within its scope.

Development has to respect that the city of Wagga has been developed on a flood plain and there are areas of salinity. Development has to respect the city’s heritage and conservation areas and values and the few remaining areas of native vegetation. Development has to respect the streetscapes and recreation areas that communities have invested in.

While developers and builders are building roads and houses, council, councillors and residents are building communities.

I appreciate Wagga’s population is growing and the amount of land available for developing is shrinking, however, the ad hoc development and continuing encroachment of agricultural lands is unsustainable.

A more strategic and holistic approach to planning and development for Wagga is required. 

Until the 2017 release of the reviews of the Local Environment Plan and the Development Control Plan, which I believe will incorporate this approach, development has to be patient, appropriate and compliant.

Ros Prangnell, Wagga

As a volunteer bus driver for Riding for the Disabled,  I was quite concerned about the condition of the road reserve between the paved surface and the gate into the RDA property located in Plumpton Road.

I contacted the council with a request to have the road repaired and in no time at all, extensive repair works have been carried out.

Thanks to Mark Morrow and his workers for a job well done. 

Council cops a fair bit of flack for various reasons, most of it unjustified, so they certainly deserve credit when credit is due.

Graeme Callander, Wagga ​

Well done to your paper for organising a positive story on the Rainbow Run.

Congratulations to Ardlethan Central School students Sophie Litchfield, Olivia Beard and Samantha Scarlett for organising a special event to raise awareness for mental health in the rural community.

Samantha Scarlett developed the idea after she and her classmates visited a mental health workshop at Leeton.

Organising 170 members of the Ardlethan community to participate when the population of Ardlethan is, according to the 2011 census, 364 is equivalent to 45% of the population being involved.

For example, if Wagga held a similar event and 45% of the population was involved then 45% x 60,000 = 27,000 people.

The organisers are great ambassadors for local central schools who provide educational opportunities for the smaller communities.

Bill Thompson, Coolamon