Commenting on the story: Off the rails: SA’s miniscule train funding as roads rule

Minister Tom Koutsantonis has indicated that he supports the concept of extending the rail network to the Riverlea housing estate in Adelaide’s northwest – but only once there is a sufficient population to justify it.

Does he also support the concept of providing roads, but only when there is a demand for it? Does he support the concept of providing water and sewerage, but only when there is a demand for it?

What is the point of doing any planning if the minister ducks responsibility? Or relies entirely on a department which is clearly anti-rail, and ignores climate change which tilts the balance heavily toward rail as a lower-carbon form of heavy transport than road? – David Inkster

Commenting on the story: Cross Rd traffic light plan after series of truck crashes

Shifting the lights on Cross Road is just a short term fix. What the Government should be investigating is why the trucks aren’t using the arrester beds.

It must be obvious to the driver that they are in trouble long before they reach the Toll Gate. It is only a short distance from the last arrester bed to the lights at Cross/Portrush Rd. – Rodney Davies

Commenting on the story: Dire straits: Culture, value and the state of South Australia’s institutions

This is a timely and pertinent article, well argued and persuasive. Let it meet the ears of those who can change things for the better for our cultural institutions. – Ruth Rentschler

Commenting on the story: Govt strengthens urban tree protections

Absolutely brilliant news on the announcement of strengthened tree protections.  It’s a rare case of broad community interest being put above vested interests.

The Conservation Council SA established that we’re losing a whopping 75,000 trees a year in metropolitan Adelaide, mostly due to subdivisions and property developments, and this despite our heating climate making the cooling effect of trees increasingly important to combat the urban heat island effect.

With deep community concern over Adelaide turning into a concrete jungle, looking forward to the Opposition providing bipartisanship for these changes. – Michael Cornish