Six-year wait? That says it all

DEVELOPMENT

I WAS gobsmacked to read that the Macquarie Point Development Corporation was about to do remediation work on the site. Six years ago the federal government granted $45 million to clean it up so why wasn’t this done immediately?

Why wait six years before doing something that you know has to be done and for which you have already received the dollars. Surely it would have been easier and cheaper six years ago. And we wonder why the development process is taking so long. Don’t hold your breath waiting for something significant to happen. Unbelievable! Colin Corney Beaumaris

Cash-strapped, hungry

CONSERVE Rosny Hill (Jenny Rayner’s Talking Point, September 27) and the Treasury Buildings for sale or lease — few would argue with the sentiments of the people: retain assets for the benefit of residents. We have cash-strapped local and state governments hungry for cash prepared to act without due diligence before signing many deals. Many fear for the future of Macquarie Point let alone other assets. Our land and buildings should be for future inhabitants not sold to the highest bidder. Education, health, housing and infrastructure are in tatters but we are offered third-rate alternatives.

Sadly all three parties have failed to deliver on promises before the election. Drivel, rhetoric and poor parliamentary debate are the results we endure. Sporting teams and stadiums are hardly a priority. The state requires better leadership by elected members and less decision-making by bureaucrats. Politicians should deliver on their promises or stand down. Glen Pears Geilston Bay

Visitors, take a hike

WHY doesn’t the Hobart City Council relocate the Hobart Visitor Information Centre to Fern Tree? After all, if they seriously consider that 12km from the pinnacle of kunanyi/Mt Wellington is a sensible location for a mountain visitor centre, then surely the same location — which is only 8km from the city — is close enough to act as a city visitor centre? Charles Gregory Lenah Valley

Pretty shirty

A CHARACTER in Heather Rose’s novel

Bruny nails it: “When you settle for Tassie, you’ve settled for less in some ways; less of what matters out there, more of what matters here. If someone wants to change that, take what you love about it away, you get pretty shirty … Because it’s what we have. It’s all we have.” It’s hard enough when it’s an interstate or overseas developer intruding on our public land and lifestyle, such as Rosny Hill and Kangaroo Bay; it’s shattering when it’s one of our own. Beth Rees Rosny

Rosny Hill precedent

I AM struggling with any notion of negotiation over development of Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area because it goes against the spirit of creating a nature reserve in the first place. A nature recreation area is “predominantly in a natural state or contains sensitive natural sites of significance for recreation. Reserved for public recreation and education consistent with conserving the values of the area.” They are set aside for enjoyment of everyone and to preserve the area. By allowing development contrary to public use on

Footy’s grassroots trampled (Talking Point, Darryn Perry)

12/10 Pezza, in my opinion the best, most honest and realistic assessment on the true state of Tasmanian football today. I, like many others, want an AFL team for the state, but the need to get it right at grassroots first is as high a priority. — Derek Rosny Hill the good intentions of those before us are disregarded. It opens the door for other areas to be exploited.

Are we prepared to sacrifice: Pirates Bay, Trevallyn, Black Bluff, Briant Hill, Coningham, Donaldson River, Gellibrand Point, Gordons Hill, Hope Island, Humbug Point, Kate Reed, Knopwood Hill, Lake Barrington, Meehan Range, Mount Dial, Palana Beach, Recherche Bay, Reynolds Falls, Snug Tiers, Emita, Killiecrankie, Mount Tanner; all nature recreation areas. “No” should be the response to any application to change arrangements made for the community that will benefit a few. Ian Jeanneret Lauderdale

For people of Clarence

THE words of Joni Mitchell have become prophetic about Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area: “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Sadly Rosny Hill is not just about parking — it has a 60-bed hotel, restaurant and recreation facilities, carparks and inevitable increase in congestion, all on reserved Crown land, which should be for the people of Clarence not the benefit of interstate and overseas developers.

Construction is bound to be a nightmare as services go to the top of a hill notorious for its hard dolerite and narrow access. Extinction of orchids and birds, clearing of bush for fire barriers, vibrations from excavations will be in addition to traffic. Joni Mitchell’s prediction all the trees will be cut down and put in a museum, thankfully will probably not eventuate but as awareness of climate change grows, every tree and green, open space are essential for the health of our planet. Rosina Beaumont Rosny