Broadening lines of inquiry is required

Cap NYE fireworks
Tag me New Year’s Grinch, but do we really need two sessions of fireworks every New Year’s Eve? Every year pyrotechnics look more extravagant. Let’s put a reasonable limit on the excesses of New Year’s celebrations and be aware that families who have to sleep in their cars that night cannot afford such an expensive spectacle.
Peter Cooke, Warrnambool

stamp of approval
My father, who was a philatelist all his life, had connections in many countries. Friendships were born from exchanging stamps. I wrote to them when he died. A few years later Friedrich from Germany sent me a letter. He couldn’t find anyone in Australia to help with his philatelic needs, so I offered. He is in his late 80s. We both enjoy being friends now and look forward to following our news. My last letter and Christmas card (and his simple request) arrived recently. What a shame if our postal service stops, as happened in Denmark, and severs these valuable ties.
Linda O’Brien, Aspendale

During planning studies
New protections around selected streams are welcomed (“Waterway protections aim to strengthen wildlife and environment″⁣, 2/1). Too much development is temporary and short-term.
There needs to be an overall vision for community assets like this.
I moved to Melbourne half a century ago to study at La Trobe University. Since then suburbs such as Mill Park and roads such as the M80 Ring Road have surrounded the area. Good planning has led to some walking and cycling paths along nearby Gardiners Creek. I welcome the better protection of many of the routes I have cycled over the years, including Skeleton Creek and Gardiners Creek.
Those who complain about extra red and green banding should consider what we want our urban waterways to look like in 50 years.
John Hughes, Mentone

Tell them they’re dreaming
We have water warnings as “Victorians go on lockdown alert” (27/12) and then we have big tech companies looking to build massive data centers in Victoria (“Data center frenzy could overwhelm the power grid”, 31/12).
Tell them they’re dreaming and just say “No.” If there isn’t enough water for residents, there certainly isn’t enough for water-hungry large data centers.
I refuse to let my garden die just so a data center can have water.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Hills

Get off the grid
Why would a new business, especially a large one like a new data center, expect to do anything other than provide its own energy and water?
Why is the average residential customer expected to incur any taxes?
One more reason to move away from the grid, or at least switch to electricity plus batteries, at least for those of us lucky ones who still live in a detached house with a garden. After my last solar upgrade my bill is less than a third of what it was before.
There’s no reason why data centers can’t do the same, as well as constantly reuse and recycle water so they don’t deplete natural resources for the highly dubious process of storing megadata. We were better off before the world fell for this junk technology.
Bernadette George, Mildura

It’s too much to bear
Can our society and environment accept this? Proposals for new large industrial electricity loads in Victoria (mostly data centres) call for an additional 18 gigawatts of electricity supply (“Data center frenzy could overwhelm the power grid”, 31/12).
Consider what this means. The proposed demand would require the equivalent of eight Loy Yang A power plants or four Snowy Hydro projects, 3600 wind turbines or 18 standard nuclear reactors. What a detrimental cost this will have for our environment. The bids are almost double the maximum historical peak electricity demand in Victoria’s summer of 10.5 gigawatts.
Developers must fund the infrastructure necessary for their work.
Most importantly, governments need to limit development approvals to meet the real needs of society and not overconsume our environment.
Greg DaviesGlen Waverley

Thank you Khawaja
Congratulations to Usman Khawaja on his brilliant and honorable career in Australian cricket. You displayed composure, respect and remarkable grace to the end; but you were sure you could enter other areas of discussion or discussion if you felt the voice needed to be heard. She is a great role model that all public figures should consider, regardless of gender, color or creed. I look forward to your next role in the public sphere as you have so much to offer the future Australia.
Shirley Gauci, Docklands

I am forever grateful
As a slow learner, it took me eighty years to discover the gift of gratitude that I cherish. Can I suggest a gratitude gift as we enter the new year? As a French proverb says, ″⁣Gratitude is the memory of the heart″⁣.
We cannot eliminate the suffering of the world, but we can choose to be people of joy and gratitude. Gratitude is delightfully contagious.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham

written parliament
I only read two letters Age One said they look forward to insightful weekly commentary from contributors Henry Herzog and Myra Fisher in 2026. I agree too.
The next letter was one written by Myra herself, stating that she “doesn’t smoke or drink but swears a bit” and that her New Year’s resolution would be to quit smoking. But he thinks this will break down by lunchtime on New Year’s Day.
It was such a humorous way to end a very sad and tumultuous year.
letter writers Age It could be a good parliament!
Andrew BarnesRingwood

defining the moment
I would like to nominate you for the most unnecessary use of a word last year: existential, existential, existential (″⁣There are existential threats – and then there is the truth″⁣, 29/12).
I’ve looked at Macquarie and the OED and the general use of this attack on the English language does not resemble their definitions.
Bradley Stark, Prahran

Golding touch
Absorbing Matt Golding’s wonderful and graphic climate cartoon (2/1) I want a high-profile investigation into political stupidity.
Jane Ross, San Remo

AND SOMETHING ELSE

world affairs
I didn’t foresee Donald Trump using ″⁣predictive″⁣ as an insult (“⁣Trump attacks ‘mediocre’ Clooney over France’s move″⁣, 2/1).
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

Donald Trump once again demonstrated that he is not suitable for politics with his attack on George Clooney. Any criticism is taken personally and provokes an angry response. Find another job, Donald.
Tony Haydon, Springvale

There is freedom of expression, there is hate speech. It seems like America can’t tell the difference.
Marie NashBalwyn

That’s why Russians are outraged over Ukraine’s alleged attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s luxury homes. Someone needs to point out that Putin has actually done this to many houses in Ukraine, many times.
David West, Essendon

Besides
Advocates of a royal commission into antisemitism should be careful what they wish for. It will be an excellent forum for those who argue that Israel’s Gaza strategy is at the root of the problem.
Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill

We are discussing the merits of establishing a “royal” commission, which would undoubtedly include a number of “King’s” Advisors. When will we grow as a nation?
Lewis Winders, Sheffield, Tas

Your correspondent (Letters, 1/1) can do better to water the tomato patch. Do as we do. We put all the detergent-free rinse water we use for laundry and dishwashing on our tomato field.
Anne Tyers, Richmond

Re ″⁣Impressive″⁣ (Letters, 2/1), my mother was one. Bless your heart and soul. I wish I had paid more attention to it.
Dick Danckert, Torquay

I decided to become an influencer at the age of 75. Will I need a social account?
Graeme Rose, Wangaratta

Impressive is the person with chronic sore throat and runny nose.
John Rawson, Mernda

Finally
Note to news editors: Take the crime off the front page. Tennis is about to start.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill