Evidence worldwide of atrocities by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Armed Forces was there from the beginning with little statesman-like-action from any of our first-world leaders.   

Brian Johnson, Gymea

The Liberal Party has lurched too far to the Left to be seriously considered as a mainstream conservative party.

With the rise and rise of Pauline Hansen's One Nation and the imminent formulation of Cory Bernardi's new conservative party my finely calibrated political antenna advises the Liberal Party will be reduced to minor political support roles following the 2019 federal election, if not to ashes.

That said, in my considered view the rot set in when the Liberal Party, led by - among others - Ministers Bishop, Pine and Morrison deferred to current PM Turnbull for its parliamentary leadership.

This graceless act of political bastardry or coup de gras has singularly contributed to the Liberal Party from enjoying a healthy majority under the stewardship of deposed former PM Abbott to a very slender majority under PM Turnbull.

There is only one way for the Liberal Party to recover from its current political malaise and, in turn, to re-establish its mainstream political credentials, and that will  involve the urging of the current PM to step down in a bloodless coup for favour of another leader that best represents and serves the aspirations of the voiceless centre right conservatives at the coal face.

D J Preece, Balgownie

I read, in the recent council newsletter I received, that several projects had been started/completed by Wollongong City Council this year.

I am happy that these articles of business have been seen to, but I needed to see that council had committed to some program of tree planting and ground maintenance, and I did not see any projects of that nature mentioned at all.

Everywhere I look, I see dead and dying trees and shrubs, or gaps where trees, now dead, used to be.

I see where council has filled in the spaces where the trees used to be, with decorative arrangements of bricks.  I see weeds choking previous plantings, which is a complete waste of council resources.

I see piles of mulch everywhere, waiting to be flattened around the trees to protect their roots and to keep precious water in the ground.

But I see the same piles of mulch waiting to be flattened for years.  And they just don't get done.

Where has the maintenance budget that Wollongong Council used to have, disappeared to?  Why does this council ignore “green concerns”, to the complete detriment of all of Wollongong's future residents?

Martina Thiele, Warrawong

Just a gentle reminder to Gareth Ward: December 2014 and the election promise of a $5 million ambulance station to be built within the Berry town limits.

Two years later – not even a gathering centered around a “sod turning event”. I suppose the situation can be described as an “empty promise” or maybe a “sick joke”.

Though around here, it is obvious, “Berryites” are not being “carried away” by your lack of enthusiasm. The longer you ignore the situation the more likely you can expect a triage of local dissatisfaction.

We need a bit of traction here Gareth. It is time to get wheels turning within cabinet to take emergency measures to resuscitate a $5 million ambulance station to be built within the Berry town limits.

John Macleod, Berry