Urban Taskforce argument for more apartments falls flat
Please tell me whether Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson's letter (January 9) was an attempt at satire or is it simply a revelation of the intellectual depth of his argument for increased high-density living in this city.
James Laukka, Epping
Surprise! The CEO of a group representing developers thinks it is funny that even those younger people with degree qualifications (and we assume reasonable incomes) can't afford to live in free-standing houses in Sydney and so choose flats. With that sense of humour, he must be just rolling on the floor with laughter about all the other people who can't afford to live in either type of accommodation.
Rena Friswell, Hornsby
Johnson states that the "reality is" that "brainy people prefer apartment living", and therefore "we must build more apartments across Sydney to lift our education standards even higher". It'll do that all right, Mr Johnson, by lifting them way up to the 20th floor, far above the "less smart" people at ground level, down with the trees and birds and beaches and parks and flowers ... oh, yes, and the new motorways to get all the brainy people to work on the 30th floor of an office block overlooking another office block. If the elevation of your address indicates your smartness, then the Urban Taskforce must be located in a cellar.
Kent Mayo, Uralla (1000 metres above sea level)
It is true that if Sydney is to grow in population and not swallow all productive farmland nearby, it needs more units. Perhaps the questions Urban Taskforce should be answering, particularly in view of the obscene profits of developers, are why are units so shoddy and ugly, and why is there so little planning that allows decent open spaces near high-density developments.
Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West
Unit dwellers are likely to be younger people, and house dwellers are likely to include a higher proportion of children and retirees.
Tim Nightingale, North Ryde
Smart people who live in apartments spend their time in libraries. That's why they're smart.
Peter Williams, North Epping
To suggest that because Rhodes, with 90 per cent of homes being apartments, is full of clever people; and that if more apartments are built, there will be more clever people, shows a lack of cleverness and logic. Incidentally, clever people in apartments would not say "different to".
Bill Windeyer, Longueville
Johnson's letter reminds me of Sir Robert (Piggy) Muldoon's remark on the then "brain drain" of New Zealanders to Australia; that emigration to Australia should be welcomed because it would simultaneously increase the average IQ of New Zealand while reducing that of Australia.
John Forrest, Annandale
SMH Letters re Smartness / Harry Tribugoff is not smart as he lived in two houses on one my pound of land title
John Forrest, Annandale
SMH Letters re Smartness / Harry Tribugoff is not smart as he lived in two houses on one my pound of land title