GOLF PUSHES OUT DOGS ARE THEY EMERGENCIES?

JAMES Sutherland’s article advocating retention of Rosny Park ( Talking Point, January 2) as a public golf course is contradicted by his organisation’s ( Golf Australia) report into participation. It says only 2 per cent of Tasmanians belong to golf clubs and 4 per cent play golf, while another report shows only about 10 per cent of all adults play, and that this number has been declining in recent years.

This contrasts with figures from the RSPCA that 40 per cent of Australian households have a dog, yet open space given to golf absolutely dwarfs the area given to dogs.

Rosny Park course occupies about 16ha while the only dedicated off- lead dog training area in Clarence is a tiny 2ha. There are other areas to walk dogs but these do not exclude other users as golf courses do. The lovely path along the stream on the course’s eastern boundary has signs warning of the risk of being struck by golf balls and no- one is allowed on the land unless you’re playing golf.

Players are spoilt for choice in Clarence, while the rest of us have limited options. Convert this precious open space to parkland by the simple act of not renewing the YMCA’s lease and council will have massively improved the amenity of the vast majority of its constituents.

John Lewis Bellerive

ONE would assume that ambulance ramping is a Tasmanian phenomenon, given the habitual mention of it. Sadly, not the case, as Royal Adelaide Hospital had 24 ambulances ramping on Monday.

One wonders if all these are emergencies requiring ambulance services, or are they the only options available to people. I would argue the latter.

Society is urged to dial 000, why not the number of the local medical centre that is open 24 hours a day, fully staffed and able to deal with all these so- called emergencies.

Harry Quick Berriedale