I totally agree with their argument that termination of an unwanted or abnormal pregnancy must be removed from the Crimes Act; it is the only medical procedure in the Crimes Act.

Like all medical procedures, before a woman decides, a doctor must explain the risks, benefits, complications and costs; a second opinion is welcomed and often advised.

This information must be "evidenced based" on reliable medical information.

Like all other medical procedures, it is a private matter between the woman and her doctor.

After 119 years of keeping this archaic law in the Crimes Act, without any review, it is definitely time to remove it and to show some respect for a women's choice for her personal autonomy.

Send us a letter

Albury Council has Development Control Plan (DCP), Part 10 open for comment.

It states that multi-dwelling developments - that is, three or more dwellings (attached or unattached) - be spaced only one lot apart.

To put this in perspective, put down the paper and take a look outside your neighbourhood.

Imagine that the house next door is replaced by three or more dwellings and the same on the other side.

Your house could be the "one-lot meat" in the "multi-dwelling" sandwich. Two doors down this continues, all across Albury.

While I understand and support the need for diverse styles and types of housing, I feel the council hasn't considered the implications that this level of density will have on the social and environmental fabric of our neighbourhoods.

I also wonder if the council is by stealth changing the make-up of our residential zones through the Development Control Plan (DCP), rather than through the Local Environmental Planning (LEP).

Say no, to the one-lot separation between multi-dwelling housing in general residential zones.

This level of development is not in keeping with the character and livability of our neighbourhoods.

Kudos to Environment Minister Sussan Ley for publicly acknowledging that climate change is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef (The Guardian, July 18).

In an earlier letter to The Border Mail (June 20), I despaired at Ms Ley's claim that the crown of thorns starfish and nutrient inflows were the biggest threats to the reef.

It's a credit to her that she's accepted the scientific evidence, but now the Coalition needs to admit that emissions from coal-burning are the greatest driver of climate change and must be reduced if we want the reef to survive.