Taking the long-term view

THE bid to remove the North East Railway line has lost the point of what community and tourism is about. Why remove $40 million worth of infrastructure and spend over $3 million of government and ratepayer funds to convert it to a bike path. Once the railway line is gone it will never be replaced. This is not about bikes and trains. It is about the community. It is about how local government and powerful interest groups have imposed their ideas on a community without any consultation. The North-East is lacking any clear destination marketing plan. Marketing is about inviting outsiders to experience our unique region. Visitors come for several days then depart. The locals live here permanently. They value their heritage, history, environment and culture. Before any marketing succeeds it has to have the support of the people who live in the towns and along the railway corridor. This is no longer about government imposing their ideas on the people. It is about people standing up for what they want.

Respect

HEATHER Sculthorpe has accused me of being disrespectful to the Aboriginal community (Letters, June 6). My criticism has been clearly directed to Alderman Christie’s handling of a gift to the city from the TAC. With the vast amount of emails from Aboriginal leaders who were also shocked and blindsided by the Lord Mayor’s actions, I have met with other leaders of the Aboriginal community. I haven’t been critical of the TAC. My closest family friends of over 50 years are descendants of Dolly Dalrymple. I would never disrespect them nor any member of the Aboriginal community. The handling of the dual naming fiasco was not a consultative approach. Concerns were raised with me and I have consulted. The Premier has clarified his position, so is he being disrespectful? I think not. A proper consultation process inclusive of other Aboriginal groups, stakeholders and all Tasmanians would have been the best approach. munity close. With time things changed again, through self determination from the palawa community, I saw attitudes in the wider community change. Dual naming isn’t just another name, it’s history, it’s truth. We, as palawa people, are still here, our culture is still strong and having dual names acknowledges that, and allows this house for us, to become a home. bourne coming to Hobart. North Melbourne doesn’t even have a big following in Melbourne compared to other clubs. Also, if he must comment on football, please use the right name for the venue, York Park is old hat, it is now officially called UTAS stadium.