Prices benefit few

I WOULD like to respond to the Core Logic Pain and Gain report (Mercury, June 30). When they state profits being gained, I doubt they take into account interest paid, cost of doing up the property, real estate fees and stamp duty. Before people start getting too carried away, the only people gaining are real estate agents, governments with stamp duty, and local government with rates on the rising values of properties and of course investors who own two or more properties. Remember, most people who sell still have to buy, so every house has gone up in value. Wait until the next government house valuation is done; your rates will go up accordingly. Think of your children and grandchildren; they will never be able to

Mac Point slow all right

ON June 22, 2014, TasRail trains were to leave Hobart railyards for the last time for 140 years, apparently to make way for the biggest, most exciting development in our state’s history, the redevelopment of Macquarie Point. Forward four years and this exciting development has seen removal of the rail lines, demolition of the cold store, some new bitumen and refurbishment of the TasRail office. Interesting it was suitable for rail employees but not the Macquarie Point Development Corporation that obviously required a higher level of comfort. I recall the premier stating this

The right development

I DO not want developers and planners, local or foreign, to dictate what our skyline will look like and impinge on our heritage. I do not want to be a mini-Singapore or to see our planning schemes bankrolled for a short-term buck. We don’t need another Marine Board or Vodafone structure. I am hoping our council will not allow this but to be pro-development as I am, when it is suitable for our skyline and in keeping with the streetscape. Small is beautiful.