In the article “Slow internet connection frustrates Illawarra residents” (Mercury, July 13), it talks about the slow internet service as a result of the National Broadband Network (NBN). I live in Helensburgh and as mentioned the above problem affects the area between Thirroul and Helensburgh.
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My household uses Telstra as our internet provider and we have had multiple issues in the past few months, regarding the problem. We called the customer support number about our internet speed and Telstra gave us a weak reply: “Telstra doesn’t service the old wiring because of the coming installation of the NBN”.
My sister and I are both high school students and require reasonable internet speed for our various school assignments. At the moment, on a bad day, the internet takes anywhere up to five minutes just to load Google, let alone any large website.
Telstra hasn’t even given an estimation when we will get the NBN. This is an out of control issue that is affecting many Australians in the Illawarra region, an issue that Telstra is refusing to make any effort to improve.
The potentially long period of time in which the NBN is being installed calls for action in the interim period. The Illawarra is sick and tired of bad internet and Telstra internet cable maintenance. It’s the 21st century, the world cannot function without internet. The Illawarra waits in the hope of Telstra taking action.
Dominic Nisbet, Helensburgh
Just hop on a train through Wollongong central or drive through any of its suburban areas and you will find the inevitable, colourful and often illegible graffiti. Big and small, short and wide, it has strangled our city in a mysterious and often damaging way. Hotlines and websites have been set up, to manage the harm as soon as it happens, but is this truly tackling the underlying issue? Wollongong City Council has boasted a controversial $200,000 bill for graffiti cleaning in 2012 alone, which doesn’t include damage to trains and private property.
There might be a solution to this ongoing dilemma. The problem that arises is, where are real graffiti artists meant to do their work? Legal graffiti art walls are a way in which artists, or anyone, can do what they want in a safe and legal way.
The issue that Wollongong faces is only one legal wall in the CBD, with another in behind Fairy Meadow skateboard park and a third behind Bulli PCYC.
Where are these people meant to paint?
I don’t condone vandalism in any way, but I believe that the council isn’t making the issue any easier for itself.
Is it really that hard to open a wall for youth and deem it legal for graffiti?
I think this town needs a break from vandalism and there is only one way to achieve this.
People need a place to paint and be creative, and a 20-metre stretch of concrete behind Wollongong Youth Centre is not enough.
Alexander Sheridan, North Wollongong
A purpose-built facility for Skydive the Beach to the north of Fairy Meadow Surf Club would be a win-win for all. It is already used by the operators. Safety issues would be lessened.
Stuart Park would once again become open space for the people.
The grassed area, where landings already take place, is very large and any safety issues that exist there at present would be reduced.
John Edwards, Fairy Meadow