Accepting women

YOUR article “Mac Point worth too much to rush” is interesting and informative (Talking Point, August 6). I was at school and university with Nick Evers and have no problem in recognising his achieve- CONSOLIDATION … of efforts and energies. The facts speak for themselves. The city of Auckland, population 1.5 million, has one council, one mayor, 20 councillors (eight of whom are female), six managers each in charge of departments such as water, transport, development etc and a full-time staff of 9800 or so and a smoother running city one could not ask for. Here on our island home of 500,000 we have politicians saying any consolidation would break that close personal bond ratepayers have with their councils. In reality that bond is more like bondage and we are but slaves to those that would hold on to power, their high salaries, paid-for cars and all the trimmings. Wake up Tasmania and lurch into the 21st century.

Cove madness

ANOTHER brain snap by this government wanting to tear up our Sullivans Cove waterfront with some harebrained idea simply to please developers that want to get their grubby paws on the cove and wreck it. It is getting rather disconcerting that Tasmanians are continually subjected to the madness of this government. Today’s proposal could do nothing but raise the ire of those Tasmanians who love the cove and want to see it stay as it is. We are the custodians of one of the best deepwater harbours in the world and I would be surprised if anyone would wish to destroy the simplicity and heritage values of our city’s greatest icon.