HAVING recently moved here, I have been intrigued and dismayed with the state of footpaths and public green spaces in Canberra.

I have been walking daily through the inner-south suburbs around Parliament House and have been amazed at knee-length or higher grass on footpaths and along major roads such as Melbourne Avenue.

Footpaths are sometimes impassable, street signs are often bent, untrimmed hedges make walking along public paths impossible and graffiti remains unremoved.

One wonders what the ACT government does with the very substantial sums raised from the amazingly high rates and taxes.

I’ve walked around the western basin of the lake where signs are faded and indecipherable, and there are discarded bottles in beautiful, green parks.

I note with agreement and equal disappointment the letter “Sad, depressing sights” (CN, November 26).

Maybe it’s time Canberra’s civic leaders took a long,hard look at the standard of maintenance of public places in other capital cities.

I’m ashamed of Canberra, the city I now call home. It should be Australia’s showcase. I just don’t understand.

Name withheld on request

Ratepayers deserve more

I AGREE with Cedric Bryant (CN, letters, November 26) re unkempt nature strips etcetera.

As a new resident to Gungahlin, I recently took an interstate visitor to Yerrabi Ponds. We drove around streets in the vicinity to admire the lovely homes and gardens, but were shocked at the unkempt nature strips with weeds and grasses waist high.

This neglect by the local government alters the ambience of the area and it is just asking for graffiti and litter.

What a shame to see this lovely, upmarket area neglected in this way. Ratepayers deserve more.

Angela Martin, Franklin

Keep politics out of review

I REFER to the review of the “Tom Roberts” exhibition at the NGA and the uncalled for political comments by Anja Loughhead at the end of her  review (“Roberts from every angle”, CN, December 10).

A review’s objective is to focus on the merits of the subject matter, not a political discourse of the reviewer pushing their own political agenda.

I strongly suggest the reviewer be counselled about this matter or be replaced.

By the way, it is right and proper to celebrate Roberts, as he was a great Australian painter. I shall certainly be going.

Mark Goyne, via email