Wanted! Someone – anyone really – to stand up and take responsibility for the health of the Tamar River.
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To date, the only group really willing to make any real commitment to fixing the problems with the Tamar has been the federal government, which has allocated millions of dollars to programmes such as silt raking.
To its credit, the Tamar Flood Authority does what it can, but ultimately the problem is so big that only a group or government with a rather large cheque book - and a determination to do so - will be the river's ultimate saviour.
Looking at the issue from a distance, waiting for someone to offer to fix the river's problems is a bit like being in a room full of children and asking them who wants to help do the dishes.
It’s an almost pointless exercise waiting for just one of them to stick their hand up, especially when you know right from the get-go that’s just not going to happen.
Technically, the river is responsibility of the state government, which oversees our highways and rivers (although don’t be surprised if they argue that’s not the case).
Most people would expect it would be the Launceston City Council - it is in their jurisdiction. But that's not the case. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that it has all become a bit of a he-said-she-said situation.
The government says the Tamar is the responsibility of the council because its plight has been caused by pumping sewage into it for years. They also point the finger at TasWater, which is owned by all the councils.
The council, on the other hand, runs with the ownership line - that it is the state's responsibility, while only 10 per cent of the overall catchment of the Tamar is located within its municipal boundary.
In other words, because the source of the contamination is outside the council's area of influence, it's not their responsibility or fault.
There are a number Launceston residents, many of them regular letter writers to this paper, who are extremely well versed on the plight of the river. Most of them have their own idea how the situation can be remedied.
Ultimately, until someone or some group is willing to put up their hand and say: "We'll fix it", then this seemingly never-ending blame game will continue, all the while the health of our river continues to deteriorate.
