Unleash big cat on Bass Strait

THE sight of Incat’s Buccoo Reef being put through her paces on the River Derwent is a tantalising reminder of how impressive these magnificently designed vessels present (“Big Cat tips toe in water for sea trials”, Mercury, November 12). I have always been a keen advocate from a Tasmanian tourism perspective for good, healthy competition both in the air and on Bass Strait.

Now our borders are pretty much open again, the price war in the air will again become normality. And for all good economic and business reasons.

TT-Line has enjoyed a monopoly for many years ferrying both passengers and vehicles to and from Victoria and a large cat of similar appearance and capability as the Buccoo Reef would not look out at all of place complementing the Spirit services.

Chris Davey

Lindisfarne

LEVEL CROSSING OBSTACLE

READER Robert Stewart of Claremont raises some logical reasons why suburban light rail can never be practical or viable using existing rail tracks (Letters, November 11). Since the first motor vehicle rolled off the assembly line, history has proven metropolitan and suburban railways and free movement of motor vehicles cannot coexist while level crossings remain. In the 1920s, cities like Chicago introduced aboveground-level railways and virtually every progressive metropolis has adopted them, culminating in the breathtaking advances of cities like Singapore where driverless trains keep strict time schedules without impediment on a maze of raised tracks. In Victoria the government has a $70bn Big Build Program to convert no less than 75 level crossings to over or underpass.

If light rail were to proceed, rather than ease congestion, the opposite is true. Gridlock would occur at each level crossing with trains at 10 to 15 minute intervals. Supposing Tasmania had sufficient resources, a rebuild of crossings would permit free traffic movement.

I suggest adherents to the pie-inthe-sky idea should cool their enthusiasm for a lost cause and face reality. If light rail was a good idea, why is it not already up and running at a huge cost to be repaid by future generations? Alan Churchill

Glenorchy

MORE ROADS, MORE CARS

IN response to reader Robert Stewart (“Light rail no answer,” Letters, November 11), how do you propose to fix the gridlock coming from all the major arterial roads. Build more roads for more vehicles? Around the world, governments have foresight and improve public transport. You talk about having to repair and replace rolling stock and employ staff to do so. Is that not what we should be doing. The government already owns the rail corridor. Public transport is a service, it is supposed to move people without the need for cars.

I am pretty sure Metro has not posted a profit, empty articulated buses with two people on them. Maybe get rid of it, too. TasRail did not stop passenger trains. It was Australian National Railways and a state Labor government allowed them to do it. Where are you going to build these roads? We need light rail and ferries and a fleet of smaller buses. Nothing will change the gridlock without better public transport.

S. Wallace

Brighton

FERRY PONTOON GAP

WHILE Kingborough moves ahead with park and ride and express bus lanes, Clarence will be stuck with a ferry trial accessible only for pedestrians and cyclists. It will befall the same fate as the four previous attempts at ferry/water taxi services. A viable ferry must be a waterborne version of a bus service with multiple stops and outlying park and ride infrastructure.

Commuters choose transport because of convenience rather than cost. Bus access fails because commuters are not going to get off a bus to catch a ferry when the bus arrives at the destination half an hour before the ferry. The state government proposes a floating ferry pontoon attached to the Kangaroo Bay breakwater currently being constructed by Clarence council. Although the logical place is the old ferry terminal, there are siltation and navigation issues associated with the embattled Chambroad hotel development.

Cr Tony Mulder

Clarence City Council

SURVEY PASSENGERS FIRST

GREAT news that the state government has called for a public tender for a ferry trial between Bellerive and Sullivans Cove, however, I thought it would be more prudent to do a survey of peakhour commuters who use the Metro or their car.

Having skippered the water taxi during peak travel time, I was lucky to get any more than 10 people per trip between Bellerive and Watermans dock and returning in the afternoon.

The proposed ferry service offers travel to bike riders. They will get to their destination far quicker than by ferry and ride for exercise. Why would bus commuters get off at Bellerive for a ferry when they can alight from the bus at their chosen stop. Why would car commuters stop at Bellerive where there isn’t all day parking; the same goes for non ambulant commuters, no parking and no toilets for the disabled. If the Department of State Growth is serious, do a survey of all commuters. Stewart Edwards

Mount Stuart

A MINUTE TO REFLECT

TO all those who shared in Remembrance Day ceremonies or at least observed one minute of silence at 11am, well done. To all those who could not tear yourself from your mocca latte or Instagram for even one minute, what the hell is wrong with you people? Miles C. Pitman

Dover

CHINA GOODS

WITH China playing silly buggers with Australian farmers and exporters, in solidarity I will endeavour to boycott every consumer good made in that communist country. I do hope those currently enjoying business with that country reconsider and develop partnerships elsewhere. Who knows what the next hissy fit will impact. Mark Taylor

Mount Seymour

RAIN NO-SHOW

OF course October was wetter. It rains up until the show, but there was no show, so it kept raining.

Peter Macrow

Sandy Bay

DISAPPOINTED

LIKE many other people on Wednesday I took some time to reflect on the incredible sacrifice made by our forces during conflict. Given the current standard of behaviour of politicians I reflected some more on what those wonderful women and men would think today. Frankly I think they would be very disappointed. Rod Cooper

Dodges Ferry

SURGERY HEADCOUNT

MARTYN Goddard has a point: we need to do better with surgical wait lists (Talking Point, November 12). This is especially pertinent in times of COVID, where a blown-out waiting list for amputations put us two-headed Tasmanians at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to venue headcounts. Mitchell Woolley Claremont

POPULARITY TEST

IF Joe Biden does what he says about COVID-19 and locks up America, it will be interesting how popular he will be.

Mark Mifsud Goodwood