Commenting on the story: Premier shirtfronts Putin over ‘bullying’

Wear it as a badge of honour, Mr Premier. – Clive Kitchin

Excellent work Premier, a list like that demonstrates you are in fine company. – James Currie

Commenting on the opinion piece: Ali Clarke: Castles made of sand

And let’s not forget the wider implications for the community.

Loss of canopy and bird habitat when the developer razes the entire block and leaves no space for replanting; heat island effect when they concrete to the boundaries and install multiple air conditioners because these new boxes have no eaves for shade in the summer; loss of neighbours trees (at their own expense) when the builders dig into roots along the fence line to install concrete sleepers and Colorbond; parking issues and rows and rows of bins lining narrow residential streets that were never supposed to accomodate multiple residences on each block.

We need infill but not of the poor quality that we are getting. – Alicia Siegel

Interesting article and perhaps poignant in this age of constant infill.

You could add to the list of unexpected consequences that when a new family moves into the subdivided property and discovers a backyard that seems akin to a jail exercise yard due to ever-decreasing block sizes, it creates a substantial amount of consternation for our dog who feels threatened by the constant encroachment so close to her territory.

Even worse when she can see heads bobbing around above the fence line thanks to uneven land height. And yet more confounding of the infill push is the question of where people are meant to park their cars (and charge them as we move toward electric), when property approvals require only a single garage (which is invariably filled with junk because the house it too small and the backyard/exercise yard couldn’t fit a shed for storage), and possibly room enough for one car in a driveway, when most families have more than one car, and an increasing number as families grow. I can see the litigation now as extension cords need to be run out to the street. – Luke Balzan

The Clarke family’s experience says it all about the intrusive, destructive and poorly regulated plethora of crowded urban infill unleashed under the newfound Planning and Design Code in this state.

The loss of individual rights and the removal of local council oversight, combined with greedy overdevelopment of single suburban residential blocks, is eroding our tree canopy, open space and lived amenity.

A parliamentary Legislative Review Committee, the Local Government Association and community groups are demanding a review of the planning laws and regulations. The Government must now respond before it is too late. – Warren Jones

Commenting on the Cabaret Festival review: The Quiet Side of Rai Thistlethwayte

Such diversely talented musicians! I loved their performance and would have loved another hour to hear more of Rai’s awesome vocals. – Karen Pickard