Freight Growth
HAYDEN Johnson’s article (April 19) is welcome news seeing that Toll lodged the application to develop its facility in May 2016, to win out after a capital review shows that the Toll Board sees Launceston as a transport hub and sound investment for the future. The proposal will see warehouses and, but most importantly, create a rail link at its Newstead property. Across Australia the importance of rail is being recognised and this facility opens opportunities for Launceston to regain its strategic centre as a distribution centre. With the building of two new vessels costing $170 million for Bass Strait trade, Launceston and Port of Bell Bay could once again benefit. The Launceston Chamber of Commerce and City Council should have urgent dialogue with Toll as the city and surrounding municipalities will benefit by this investment. Tas Rail have a transport hub at Bell Bay, Dorset Council needs to ensure North-East Line remains in situ so it is on an equal footing with other municipalities. Toll is aware of the challenges of climate change and the need to diversify as it is becoming evident of the carcinogenic effects diesel fuel has, the need to reduce pollution on our roadways, and be prepared for any impending oil crisis.
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Brian P. Khan, Bridport.
Mental Health
MENTAL health problems and mental illness. These terms are now being used interchangeably and the waters are becoming very muddied indeed. Yes people are stressed, particularly young people, for a variety of valid reasons including 'school and study reasons and family conflict' (The Age, April 19). You could also add unemployment, under employment, drug misuse, the state of the world and so on. My point being that mental health problems are more likely to be related to environmental triggers. Whereas a mental health illness is likely to be either the consequence of unaddressed or compounding mental health problems or a chemical imbalance or a combination of both. Our social needs - to have a sense of purpose, to belong, to live in a clean and healthy environment surrounded by constructive and supportive people - somehow gets buried in the loud cacophony of a headline hogging mental health crisis. The real crisis is our failure to address inequity in our society, proper paying jobs, affordable housing, appropriate public school funding, better education outcomes and energy policies that embrace fundamental environmental concerns. The real mental health problem is that which is deeply embedded in our body politic.
Tony Newport, Hillwood.
Campbell Town Traffic
THE ever increasing number of vehicles passing through Campbell Town is keeping pace with my increasing age, which has reached the stage whereby a simple plan to cross the main street now demands serious mental planning. The once simple move has now become an outright dangerous exercise. The average age of the local population is the oldest in Tasmania and yet we are expected to cope with a number of vehicle movements through our town centre that demand a four-lane highway at each end of the town. The time has come for authorities to plan for the Midland Highway to bypass Campbell Town. Hopefully such planning will not be put aside until one of us is killed.
Bill Chugg, Campbell Town.
AFL in China
WHAT ON on earth did the AFL have in mind in going to China of all places to play football. Isn’t their main sport table tennis? I remember recently they went and played a game in New Zealand. I bet there was more expat Aussies there than Kiwi Aussie Rules in the land of Rugby. Sounds like trying to convert the Pope into a Buddhist. Where are they getting the money to afford a trip like that? AFL is fast becoming less of a sport and more like a business. Save the money and put it towards a Tasmanian team.
David Parker, West Launceston.
