Commenting on the story: GoFundMe call for dollars: residents launch court action against Glenelg rehab site

There are existing half-way house, drop-in and rehab centre type facilities in Glenelg already – just not specifically in Glenelg South.

I also live in the area where this is proposed, and can’t see why this facility would be a bigger issue than the existing visible drug, alcohol, itinerant and homelessness presences I see on an almost daily basis. It might even help, after all that seems to be its purpose. – Tony Dawkins

Pull your heads in, Glenelg folks. It’s a rehab facility, not a bottle shop. A main rule will be “no drinking”, so there will no mobs around your doorsteps trying to get inebriated. – George Farquharson

Commenting on the story: Rage against the latrine: Onkaparinga’s $100k-a-year toilet vandalism bill

I was sad to read the story on the toilet vandalism being endured in the Onkaparinga Council area. The main reason being, is that I thought I had left this anti-social behaviour behind me in the UK when I immigrated to Australia in 1990.

I can remember being astonished on my arrival here that public telephones and public conveniences were all completely functional and useable – an occurrence of extreme rarity in the UK.

Over the years I have put this down to the different way of life in Australia, where much is provided for the youth of the day in terms of sporting and social activities to keep them amused and away from gratuitous acts of vandalism. I wonder what has changed in 30 years? – Christopher Saint

Commenting on the story: Compulsory voting among ideas for local government shakeup

Too many people are disinterested in local council issues, despite the reasonably significant role they play. I would argue that a large part of this disinterest is due to the nearly complete vacuum of local news these days.

This has resulted in a lack of focus on much of the work that Councils do, aside from the issues that manage to attract state-wide attention, normally for the wrong reasons.

The trifecta of elections last year certainly saw voter fatigue set in. While postal voting might have been an improvement back in 1997, receiving a posted letters is getting rarer these days, especially for younger generations. With such a large period of time for people to be able to return their ballot (with an additional week added for the 2022 election), it is all too easy to forget to vote if you don’t do it right away. The vast majority of people though, expect to turn up somewhere to vote.

I am greatly concerned about the idea of removing Council wards. Councils can already do this if they wish but the vast majority have retained a ward-based system. Wards are critical for having balanced representation and favour electing people with local knowledge and who represent a broad array of interests. Their removal would significantly assist candidates running on single (often niche) issues, I cannot see how that benefits anyone.

It would also favour areas of greater population density (easier to campaign) and most likely see areas of lower socio-economic status ignored as there tends to be lower turnout in those areas. It would be the equivalent of removing state based electorates and just letting electors choose 47 MPs.

My local Council, Mitcham, had some 27 different candidates in the 2022 election across six wards. If people find it difficult to choose now between 3-4 candidates, why would choosing between 27 make that decision any easier? – Tom Morrison

Commenting on the opinion piece: Monopoly money: Why are we being charged card fees when there’s little choice?

Don’t point all of the wrath at the retailer. The banks are most responsible as they are making huge savings not dealing in cash, but are continuing to punish customers – both business and personal – with fees on card transactions.

Instead of challenging Mrs Kafoop’s Coffee Shop, take the bat to the big banks! – Kym Smith

Instead of asking why a surcharge, can I suggest looking at the issue from the perspective of me being given a discount when I choose to pay in cash.

Perhaps Ali Clarke should start to pay in cash and engage in one of the most radical activities available to people today, by keeping cash local and refusing to contribute to bankers’ bonuses every time she buys a coffee or a cake using a card. – Alistair McCulloch

Sorry, but Ali Clarke needs to do more research. The regulations were changed in 2003. It was always going to lead to our current ourcome. I’m still waiting for Mobile tap and go via Eftpos… – Scott Sima 

Commenting on the opinion piece: Child’s play: how we can boost our young people’s happiness

Here’s some tips for kids. Limit the use of iphones. They are the prime cause of the malaise we are seeing today. Start playing with your kids. Make things in the shed.

Take them to a park. Go bushwalking. Take them and their friends to the beach. Get them a bike and encourage their friends to explore the neighborhood. Give them freedoms that are calculated not to excessively risk safety. Fill the house with books. Turn off the TV. Read to them until they learn the magic of reading themselves. Buy them a footy and encourage their friends to use the local oval.

These activities are what I did as a kid and was encouraged to do. There is no validity in the popular claim that these ideas are not for the 21st century. Kids that never play become very insular, lonely, boring adults. Look at some young managers today. Many never had the freedom, or the imagination, to play. – John Bridgland

Commenting on the review: The Firm presents Marianna Grynchuk

This was indeed a superb concert and my first experience of this venue. What a triumph for all. – Geoff Clark