Population in city electoral boundaries of Epping is about 53,981 and what area does it cover?

The equal number of electors in an electorate does not give equal representation when distances are not equal.

It is a fact that Australian people know very little of the Australian constitution. What does it say in regard to health?

How does the population of Murray establish contact with their elected member given the distance that people have to travel from towns? Rotos is the gateway to the outback, Hillston, Wallanthery, Mossgiel, Booligal and at the other end of the boundary is Conargo and Griffith is situated somewhere in the middle. Griffith Base Hospital is the first call for people who need emergency care. And now Temora mothers will have to travel if their hospital operating theatre is closing down.

In the old days, we stayed 10 days in hospital, had a baby nursery that the nurses looked after the babies, it is called progress, that today's mothers look after their own babies.

We have lost kitchen staff that cooked the meals, laundry that was making a profit, blood bank, radiology and sterilisation services and who is serving the hospital now with sterilisation services?

The people of Murray have to fight to keep our Base Hospital first class; you never know when one is in need of emergency health and service.

Griffith community should be proud of their contribution in raising funds for the private hospital, add all those who participated in the fun race to the lake and dinners.

And now our Base Hospital doctors need your support to raise money for urgent equipment that may save your life, money raised should be donated to those wonderful volunteer’s Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and not to the Murrumbidgee Health Services.

It's a bit late, but here's two further suggestions that haven't been put forward yet for the bypassing of Wagga by heavy vehicles and other "through" traffic.

Nearly every aerial picture of any city in the world we see these days features bridges and fly-overs. Why not have an overpass running above Hammond Ave/Edward St, starting from beyond Kooringal Road and finishing perhaps beyond the Pearson Street/Olympic Highway roundabout? There would have to be suitable fly-overs at each end to allow through traffic adequate access to the city, but competent engineers should be able to overcome local objections to whatever plan is offered.

A hidden advantage would be the elimination of the problem of Marshall's Creek. There would be no need for any exits between each end.

I will be fascinated to see the cost comparison between this concept and some of the others that are being floated. For a start, haven't we got the local concrete and crane contractors that just may be involved?

My alternative is to revert to the original council plan of having Red Hill Road as the bypass, but instead of having the road over and through the cutting, why not spend the money that is to be spent on the southern bypass on a tunnel under Red Hill? The project would provide a level road from the Bourke Street roundabout to Lutheran School. Spoil from the tunnelling would provide fill for the approaches to the considerable bridge work necessary across the flood plain to link up with the Sturt Highway as originally planned.

Both my suggestions offer level and therefore quiet modes of handling traffic. Perhaps some overpasses could be incorporated, they seem to work fairly well.