I have never said this is a silver bullet solution but I strongly believe we have to put it on the table and work together as a community to try and find answers.

We have a problem, there is no denying it.

I have lost track of how many phone calls and hours I have spent talking to people that would be involved (from councils, to the attorney-general’s department, police, community and youth services) but to me the most important people I have spoken to are the community.

There will always be the naysayers who say a curfew won’t work, but what are they doing to address the issue?

This is not about pointing the finger at one particular group or demonising kids, this is about all services coming together as a collective.

Children as young as 12 should not be on the streets at night!

Under the child protection and parental responsibilities act of 1997, council has the right to apply through the attorney-general for an “operational area plan” to be put in place.

This is not given lightly and all the stakeholders that become part of this application are local council,  NSW Health, police, community services, youth services, other government agencies, indigenous and ethnic organisations etc.

The attorney general’s department looks at local consultation. extent and nature of crime in the local area and the nature of local crime prevention and initiatives.

If this plan is approved, it then gives Wagga City Council the opportunity to apply for grants and funding for more services.

Isn’t that what we as a community want?

It also generates data to police and council every six months.

Again, this would benefit Wagga as a community because it would give stats that could be used when applying for funding through federal or state government. 

Our crime stats reflect on Wagga as a whole.

How can we increase tourism? Encourage new residents to move to the area?

How can we encourage new businesses to invest in Wagga?

We are a community and a strong one at that.

Our residents want a council that is working on solutions.

WE REFER to Geoff Field’s letter of Friday, September 16, regarding the issue of gay marriage.

We endorse his suggestion that if the gay community could find another term (excluding the word marriage) for their unions, there would be no need for an expensive plebiscite and the problem would be solved.

YOUR editorial of September 14 about gay marriage needs one more correction.

In the second last paragraph, it is stated: “If we accept that some people are born gay…”

This is an assumption or wishful thinking, not a fact.

If we were born in a certain way because of DNA, then we are that way for life – such as white skin remains white for life, the same for black skin and for short or long legs.

However, it is a fact that many gays are inclined to be gay for a period of time and then become heterosexual.

Some get married and have children.

So they need not be made to believe that change is not possible. Many have changed and that is an undeniable fact.

There is little or no publicity given to the positive aspects, so I stress don’t be misguided or misled by the negative-minded people.