My congratulations to Albury City Council for the way this naturally beautiful place has been developed, but not spoiled by over-development, into what must be one of the nicest riverfront areas.

The recent improvement of sealing the car parking spaces is most welcome, but the immaculate grooming of the total space, with its provision of seating and BBQ amenities is excellent.

Lots of walking and cycling paths and a safe children's play area contribute to what has become a valued and well-used amenity by Albury's citizens. Well done Albury!

This is the way to spend our rates: so that places like Noreuil can be utilised and enjoyed by all.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I agree with comments of Sharon Potocnik in The Border Mail of February 24 saying news should no longer be on Facebook.

Yes, what purports to be news on Facebook is very suspect and can't be relied on.

What's more people getting "news" for free on Facebook is a significant contributing factor for, over recent years within Australia, many newspapers shutting down and hundreds of journalists and other newspaper workers losing their jobs. I urge people to do the right thing and subscribe to the online issues or purchase paper copies of The Border Mail and other regional newspapers. Doing this will keep existing newspapers in business and their staff in jobs and enable readers to get professionally produced and accurate news.

Yes, I do as I suggest and buy the paper issues of six newspapers each week.

The robust debate over the placement of Indigenous flags in a public place that recently benefited from a $1.35 million development thanks to the public purse, in order to reflect contemporary public values should call our councillors into the fray, not running for cover.

It is surprising that the "too hard basket "option is being suggested by Councillor Darren Cameron a representative of the Australian Labor Party whose battles have been associated with social reforms of which Australia can be most proud. Medicare, addressing child poverty, development of a national agenda for women and the royal commission into institutional responses to child abuse were born of passionate community discussion, not kicking important debate into the long grass.

Albury is not the Midwest, nor are we a ghetto for the social mores of the 1950s. Imagine Albury as a computer that can't receive updates because the programmers anticipate difficulties along the way.

Organisations and institutions that fail to keep step with the spirit of their age are writing their way into history. It is not only the young people of Albury that benefit from the leadership that keeps our community aligned with contemporary national values.

The suggestion that avoidance is a strategy to "move forward" is an anthem sung by armies in retreat. Thanks once again to Cr Amanda Cohn who consistently demonstrates that she has as much faith in the future of Albury as others have in its past.

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