Airlines control our flights
HOBART CITY DEAL
WITH regards to the Hobart City Deal announcement, how can the Government say international flights will begin next year when it’s 100 per cent up to the individual airlines to make this decision (“Flying start,” Mercury, October 3)?
Can the Government tell us which airline will begin these services to Hobart and from which international port? Will it be from Auckland, Hong Kong or Shanghai? Will it be Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Air Asia or China Eastern? So many parts of this City Deal still sound so vague, with no guarantee of any action taking place.
New Zealand first
WITH the long overdue announcement of international flights from Hobart Airport perhaps in 2020, will destinations be those that Tasmanian residents want, or will vested interests be prioritising mining tourists from lucrative Asian markets?
Resuming flights to and from New Zealand should be a priority. Perhaps Indonesia (Bali) and other destinations Tasmanians prefer to travel to should also be a consideration.
It should not be all about one way tourism. Some of us like getting out of the state, as hard as that is to fathom. word “rail” from their nebulous transit corridor. The Macquarie Point Development Corporation never seems to want to discuss rail. The Tasmanian Government has pledged to return the rail corridor to a usable state to allow for heritage rail. How is this to be achieved? Is there a secret plan to rip the line up? The line should be returned to operational state and a light rail service extended to Brighton.
This will require the rail line be retained for any Bridgewater crossing. Other states build light rail from scratch, yet we cannot get a system up and running when we have much of the infrastructure already in place. It would be a fraction of what other cities have had to pay. jobs. The Tasmanian Government committed to protecting the rail corridor for future use. Thus its extremely disappointing to see the same government jeopardising future rail at both ends with no plan for rail at Macquarie Point or the Bridgewater Bridge. Elected members need to be reminded of their now derailed commitment to protect the rail corridor. Indeed the former infrastructure minister said, “Hobart can have light rail within five years”!? ( Mercury, January 17, 2018).
Steady breathing
YES, Alan Tudge and Michael Ferguson, the South could possibly “be cheering from the rooftops” at some stage (Talking Point, October 3) because our lungs won’t be engaged holding our breath waiting for any of the plans to get off the ground any time soon.
Sydney-Hobart finish
Constitution Dock has not been the finishing point for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race since its inception ( Mercury, October 2.) It was always the RYCT judges’ box on Castray Esplanade. Competitors in the first race were berthed in the area then known as “The Steps” inside Princes Wharf, now reclaimed to build extensions for Princes Wharf No.3.
Shakedown worry
SCOMO beware! It is best not to get too chummy with Donald Trump. He is very volatile, often cannot be trusted and will use Mafia-style shakedowns for political gain. If someone disagrees with him or does not go along with his demands, he has been known to let mates hang out to dry!
Honey, we’ve been conned
LOVERS of that very expensive Manuka honey from New Zealand are being conned. Tasmanian produces ti tree honey, which is the same as Manuka. I used to purchase a 3litre bucket of ti tree honey for $18. We have been conned by New Zealand’s fancy marketing.
Corner store milk
WHO in their right mind would buy milk from Coles or Woolworths supermarkets? Their use-by dates are frequently days older than the fresh stuff that is readily available at most of the small corner traders. A case of bigger always being best? Not always!