I smell trouble for heritage rail

CAMERON Whiteley’s article is pertinent (“Forget North versus South – real split is west to east,” Mercury, October 28). Burnie Mayor Steve Kons has highlighted the need for more emphasis on his region. A decision is expected in parliament this week over the northeast rail corridor which I understand will preclude TasRail being responsible for the rail line to Wyena for future heritage rail to the Bridestowe Lavender Farm that attracts 85,000 tourists a year.

Surely parliament should act on the sensible recommendation of Legislative Council president Craig Farrell that the line in Launceston’s municipality remain so. Heritage rail from Wynyard to Hobart would revitalise the North-West Coast. Victoria’s population is increasing by 150,000 a year. Tasmania needs to be cognisant of the benefits it creates apart from exporting our young and intelligent to them. The submission by David Adams Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania to the North East Rail Corridor Legislative Council Inquiry must have fallen on deaf ears, if TasRail is only going to be responsible for the line to Lilydale. Brian P. Khan Bridport

Our senators special

IN regard to reader Jack Sonnemann’s query (“Why so many senators,” Letters, October 25), the composition and powers of the Senate are established in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia. There are 76 senators: 12 from each of the six Australian states regardless of population and two from each of the two autonomous internal territories. The US has 100 senators.

Unlike upper houses in other Westminster-style parliamentary systems, the Senate is vested with significant powers, including the capacity to reject all Bills, including budget and appropriation Bills, initiated by the government in the House of Representatives, making it a distinctive hybrid of British Westminster bicameralism and US-style bicameralism. It is these considerable powers that govern the need for more than two senators from each state. If there were only 16 they would hardly be in a position of authority to contest the Upper House’s decisions, the basis of our whole system of democracy. Odille Esmonde-Morgan Glenorchy

Let wallabies roam

IN regards to reader P. Dodson’s letter about roaming wallabies (Letters, October 28), I am not sure if it is known that is what wallabies do and were doing long before white people inhabited Australia. We are the ones affecting their habitat and need to adjust to live with them. If they are affecting you, you need to do something to protect your area and leave them to do what they do naturally. Cats are introduced and do not have a place in our wild. I can show you what they do to my garden and indeed the damage they do to our native wildlife. Ian Joseph Glenorchy

Busker on parking duty

I WAS wondering, at what stage will Glenorchy City Council clearly delineate the newly allocated taxi spaces outside the Centro Shopping Centre; similar to disabled parking spaces perhaps. These spaces were previously used by shoppers and a failure to indicate a change other than the small raised signs appears to be revenue raising by stealth. A big thank you to the busker who has warned as many shoppers as possible prior to them being stung. Brett Robbins New Town

Can’t see prison benefits

I AM normally pro-development, more Right-wing than Left, more Liberal than Labor, definitely not a Greens member, but in the case of the Westbury prison I cannot provide logical reasons why a prison should be built there for the benefit of the town. People talk about the monetary benefits but sometimes in life we have to make decisions based on lifestyle, family, safety and community. I find it ironic the people who live in other places who are in support of the Westbury prison. If it was to be built in say, Legana, Riverside or St Leonards and you lived there would you be in support of a prison? Am I for the cable car in Hobart? Yes, am I for hotel and tourism development, yes, but a prison in a small historic village? No. And yes, it is very close to the town. Would you move to a town with a prison? And for those in support of the prison who show support only via keyboard, don’t be surprised if those against the prison win this argument. Peter Darrow Trevallyn

Councils clog traffic

METRO Tasmania, in its submission to the Legislative Council committee investigating Hobart traffic congestion, said it had done everything in its remit to improve travel times around Hobart, but was hindered by local governments that “have not been responsive” (“Metro slams councils”, Mercury). Hobart City businesses are reeling from the reduction in trade due to the impact of new parking meters deterring visits to CBD. North Hobart businesses and residents are adversely affected by parking problems. Are councils hoping that with Halloween there will be a surplus of flying broomsticks? Elizabeth Osborne North Hobart