When I read comments from the likes of Crispin Hull (''Leading all roads to Civic is dense policy down fiasco drive'', July 26, pB7) and others (Letters, July 28), it makes me wonder what the rest of us (and some of our children) should do once they close the doors. We don't all work (or aspire to work) in government departments, universities, or a subsidiary of a leading Australian corporation.

There are many of us who earn our daily bread by building this great city and are not just ready to call it quits.

All cities make ''planning blunders'' and if you think these only happen in Canberra, think again.

If you are concerned about the direction our leaders are taking us in, then vote them out (if you think the other mob can do a better job); if the thought of developers making too much money makes you feel left out, then put your hands into your own pockets and get in the game.

The demographics of Australia are changing and the masses are moving to the cities, and what a great city to move to. We are currently competing with all major cities, not only in Australia but also the world to attract the best in skilled labour to live in the ACT.

The negative vibe from commentators like Hull and others are not helping us at all.

The problems we face in the ACT are not insurmountable and we as a community will sort them out.

We are just going through teething problems and there are many of us who have great expectations and aspirations for our young city. Let's not let the doom and gloom of the nay-sayers take control of the political agenda.

Don Maye, Farrer

Celia Kneen (Letters, July 23) points out that the present recreational open space of Deek's Forest Park north of Holder and Duffy is now being planned as the new Molonglo suburbs of Coombs and Wright, with little regard for open space for recreational use.

Is it ACTPLA error or a change in government policy that the dreams expressed in the Government's Shaping Our Territory reports have been turned into suburbs emphasising higher density residential areas with limited open space?

Government documents issued since the 2003 bushfire have confirmed the community value of the significant and varied recreational use made of Mt Stromlo and Deek's Forest.

The ACT Government has provided significant funds for multi-use recreational development at Stromlo Forest Park to enable it to continue to be used by equestrians.

Equestrian Park Curtin is to be upgraded with ACT Government money.

Equestrian access to link these two facilities, a necessity for the many horse riders based between Curtin and Weston Creek, has not been planned.

Though it is mentioned in various stages of the documentation, the most recent plans also did not make any provision for the Bicentennial National Trail, used by horse riders, cyclists and walkers, to continue from the Arboretum to Stromlo Forest Park and beyond.

The current concept plans for the suburbs of Coombs and Wright emphasise residential development, and local centres with higher density housing.

In an age when we are concerned about participation rates in healthy activities it makes no sense to be limiting public open space.

Wright and Coombs do not look like good planning for Canberra, just an attempt to cram as many people as possible into the smallest possible space.

Christine Lawrence, president, ACT Equestrian Association Inc

Carney's not so bad

So Todd Carney was drunk and apparently behaved badly and condemned without a chance to give his side of the story.

I wonder how many of the board of management are squeaky clean.

I played rugby union and rugby league in the 1950s in country NSW.

If players committed such ''offences'' after a brilliant win and were suspended there wouldn't have been a competition.

As for the good name of rugby league being stained by such an event, are all of the league administrators squeaky clean?

If Todd Carney has a drinking problem, does that make him unique?

Help him, don't harm him and his team.

Keith Crowley, Chapman