No silvertail
I LIVE quite close to the proposed monstrosity at Bellerive and I can tell you I’m no silvertail or a member of the yacht club (Letters, December 7), It’s easy for someone who won’t be affected by council plans to suggest we suck it up for the sake of the rest. The only one to benefit from this proposal is the developer who has picked up land worth much more than they paid due to this State Government and Clarence City Council doing a deal, keeping residents in the dark until a deal was done. the ancient etchings. Former Greens leader Christine Milne has been guiding a campaign. As a result, the Labor Government in WA committed to nominate the rock art for World Heritage status. Woodside and fellow industries should consider obligations to protect humanity’s global heritage as well as worry about gas prices.
Listen on pokies
PLAYING poker machines is not about “choice”. Len Ainsworth, the founder and owner of Aristocrat, which supplies most of the poker machines in Australia, when asked the secret to his success, said: “Building a better mouse trap.” Poker machines are designed to be addictive. Playing is not unlike experimenting with heroin. It is dangerous. It leads to addiction. Hobart City Mission is making a stand for the removal of poker machines in pubs and clubs. Every day we see the harm caused to families and community through the clients that come to our door. Financial problems, family breakdown, family violence, mental health issues, and the list goes on. They must go. Make some noise. Make our decision-makers listen.
Spread visitors around
THE story about Government Business Enterprise hearings and tourist attractions becoming overrun by cruise-ship visitors is a warning when considering a cable car and visitor centre for kunanyi/Mt Wellington ( Mercury, December 6). Increasing visitors and extending their stay is what the GBE hearings were warning against. A pinnacle centre will increase the impact in a sensitive alpine environment. Sharon Sullivan, of the Port Arthur Historic Site, suggests spreading people around. Port Arthur is pursuing a carrying capacity study. Perhaps a similar study should be done on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. With so many attractions, not including the summit, surely the discussion should focus on spreading visitors around instead of cable car gondolas arriving at the top like mini cruise-ships ready to invade the summit
Still boiling
JUST asking TasWater why we have been on a boil water alert for over two years. As a resident in the area of Rocky Creek, we pay our water bills along with all the other residents. Our water is a brown colour. This occurs after every rainfall. If we have to pay extra to keep boiling water, why don’t the residents get discounted water rates. I personally think we are all entitled to some sort of discount. So TasWater, can you get your act together and consider this. Thank you.
Dust off the hard hat
AFTER another poor poll, it seems it’s up to Santa to save a sinking Premier ( Mercury, December 7). The Christmas wish list: T-shirts to save valuable time wasted rolling up sleeves for televised site visits; properly fitting hard hat for interviews; book of heroic poses; and a full cut and polish for the ribbon-cutting scissors.