PARKING PAIN
Quick, or we’ll be eaten by cars
DEVELOPER Quinten Villanueva’s proposed multi-level residential block and carpark in Condell Place carpark may be the much needed solution to North Hobart parking problems. It presents as a sustainable, attractive development that is sensitive to the needs of surrounding residents. (“Parking proposition kicked into motion,” Mercury, September 18). Hurrah for Alderman Marti Zucco persuading the Hobart City Council to pursue expressions of interest for the Condell Place carpark development. Action is needed now before North Hobart, the destination entertainment place for Hobart, is eaten by cars. parking. Restaurants and customers using Uber Eats could prioritise delivery by ebike rather than by car. Getting a taxi is a better idea anyway if a few drinks are involved. And there are frequent bus services down this strip. Any off-street parking increases should come with the proviso that on-street parking will be removed to improve cycling, walking and public transport along Elizabeth St.
Cinema spots
JOHN Kelly says the Condell Place carpark proposal in North Hobart ticks all the boxes ( Mercury, September 18). Perhaps he could now look to provide adequate parking at his own iconic State Cinema. an enjoyable experience rather than a noisy, fume-filled one. Alderman Zucco, John Kelly and the North Hobart Traders Association wish to increase parking, which will increase cars in and around the North Hobart strip. By lobbying for more parking, are Zucco et al trying to decrease visitation and spending in North Hobart?
Market space crunch
HOBART City Council displays a very cavalier attitude to Salamanca Market and disdain for stallholders. Access to the market continues to be curtailed for both stallholders and the public as the council continues to reduce carparking around Salamanca Market. To add insult to injury, acres of vacant concrete carparking facilities around Salamanca Market are left empty and inaccessible to both the general public and stallholders. Shame on you HCC! Stallholders’ rents continue to escalate while turnover plummets. Will any aspiring alderman make an effort to revitalise Salamanca Market?
Had to organise their own rally
AN Australian of the Year, who is considered with his words, is saying, “As I have become ever more furious at the polluters and denialists, I have come to understand they are threatening my children’s wellbeing as much as anyone who might seek to harm a child.” Today the children are even having to organise their own fix-the-climate rallies. It is too much. It’s our watch — should be us fixing it.
Cloudy future
HAVE the climate strikers read this part of one of the official IPCC reports? “The climate system is a coupled non-linear chaotic system, and therefore the long-term prediction of future climate states is not possible.” Perhaps they know something the IPCC does not?
Plea for Paine
LAY off Tim Paine. The umpires made the mistakes (again and again), not our captain.
They have a bridge
DROVE through Batemans Bay in NSW, apparently no trouble getting on with replacing their lifting span bridge.