Willow Grove relocation not rewriting history

It’s understandable that Parramatta residents are upset by the loss of Willow Grove, but the blame rests solely on the mendacious Berejiklian government (“Villa will not become ‘fake heritage’ ”, September 10).

All losses of heritage buildings should be mourned but the hard reality is that, from an architectural point of view, the destroyed building was far from unique. There are numerous examples of its high Victorian Italianate style scattered throughout Sydney.

However, the Roxy Theatre in Parramatta is unique, a splendid art deco picture palace that would sit comfortably among Miami’s vast stock of early 20th century architecture, the city’s major tourist attraction. The minister should be congratulated for recognising the importance of this gem. Restoration of the Roxy would go some way towards compensating Parramatta for the loss of Willow Grove. Leo Schofield, Potts Point

There seems to be something madly illogical about demolishing historic buildings to build a museum. Surely, the previous NSW government could have found a talented architect who could incorporate historic buildings as part of a new museum in Parramatta. Paul Doyle, Glenbrook

It’s unbelievable that the North Parramatta Residents Action Group and the National Trust have joined the treadmill of the state government’s “spin-doctoring” over the appalling decision not to proceed with the promise of the previous Liberal government to rebuild the tragically demolished 19th-century villa, Willow Grove at Parramatta. The assertion that a relocating of a rebuilt villa with its original building materials is “fake heritage”, and the pathetic attempts at placation are not only an insult to the many people who fought to retain Willow Grove but is laughable when one considers such projects as UNESCO’s relocating of the 13th BC Abu Simbel temples when the building of Aswan High Dam threatened to drown this historical site in Lake Nasser in Upper Egypt. Thousands of tourists from all over the world spend a lot of money to visit these re-sited and restored temples without ever thinking they’re nothing more than fake heritage. Neil Maclean, Bowral

Blue yonder

A dual name for the Blue Mountains and recognition of its Indigenous cultural heritage would both be great moves (“Blue Mountains would benefit from recognition”, September 10). But it raises an interesting thought. How do we describe the wider value we all attach to the area? Perhaps awe-struck? Over and above the beauty and natural diversity, a sense of wonder seems the universal response to this place – from First Nations, European settlers, modern artists and international visitors alike. “Awesome” is definitely a thing. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Fair play forgotten

In her excellent article (“Let’s talk about economics, baby”, September 10) Parnell Palme McGuinness points to the drift to oligopolies – think Coles-Woolworths, the four banks and Qantas-Virgin. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when governments provided countervailing influence to keep these concentrations of power honest (think the people’s bank – the Commonwealth, TAA in domestic aviation, Qantas in international aviation and Medibank Private). Surely, it is time to return to such arrangements in the interests of competition and fair play. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

McGuinness argues, correctly, that competition is good and cronyism is anticompetitive, but what she excludes from her analysis is disruption. The American model has made disruption a virtue and many entrepreneurs have an unambiguous intention to disrupt existing markets. Has Airbnb significantly disrupted the rental market in coastal communities, driving trades and service workers, like teachers, out of town? We used to find taxis waiting at our local station but now we need a mobile phone to get a lift home. Competition is good, but wholescale disruption is wrong. Michael Harrington, Bonnet Bay

Hell on wheels

Certain councils are considering imposing conditions and a fee on professional dog walkers (“Council plans to put paws in walkers’ pockets”, September 10). There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of people who ride bicycles on our roads, many of them as work. No requirements there for any driving licence, registration, or any road tax. Many of these adults also ride on footpaths, usually because they have no knowledge of the road rules. In fact, many seamlessly transfer from footpath to road and back again. Any pedestrian will tell you that these wheeled (and sometimes also motorised) vehicles on footpaths provide a greater hazard than dogs on a lead. State governments of either persuasion have never seen fit to address this issue, which also includes motorised wheelchairs. Isn’t the presence of bikes on footpaths a particular health and safety hazard, particularly since they have become motorised? Julia Bovard, North Sydney

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