Planning Alliance
THERE’S a 'non-fragrant stench' over Launceston and it’s coming from the East.
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Just because Tasmania is an island does not mean that we have to suffer the same monstrous over-scaled, overdone development that has changed the face of Singapore.
There, the colonial architectural heritage has been reduced to a few small precincts and the rest of the city has gone 'underground or overhead' in buildings the height of which would look totally out of place in Launceston, if not the whole of Tasmania.
Development, yes, but at what cost and for whose benefit?
Will the government, the City of Launceston council stand by the denizens of this city and protect our skyline?
Or will we become another Brisbane, Gold Coast or Singapore with nothing architecturally, of any historical value left? Not to mention anything about our unique identity as a city, that is heartfelt and appreciated by the likes of our home grown entrepreneurs such as Errol Stewart, whose silo redevelopment is a positive addition to this city and not a proposed eyesore that the not-so-fragrant Singapore group wishes to force on us.
Keep our height restrictions in place.
Vicki Jordan, Mowbray.
Unsigned Letters
ANNE Brelsford's unsigned letter apparently admonishing her for her stance on illegal immigration (The Examiner, November 24) is interesting in that I also received an unsigned letter - possibly the same one - with a note condemning her empty and pointless outburst whilst endorsing my usual platform on this subject.
My view certainly endorses that our government should make Australians their first call.
I do not question Anne's sincerity in anyway but must conclude that her approach is beyond the scope of practical application.
For as soon as we gave one batch of illegal immigrants preferential treatment we would be faced with another batch; that is to say, people cheating on the system by trying to oust those who have followed the accepted procedure.
In short the boats would set out again and the people smugglers would be back in business.
The results more deaths at sea and more costly containment locations.
Australia is doing a remarkable job in responsibly handling both legal and illegal immigration in our national interest.
The high moral ground adopted by some simply does not cut the mustard.
If one jumps off a cliff it is best to make sure that an angle will catch you before you hit the rocks. The beautiful pea green boat may not be seaworthy and there may not be honey for tea.
Len Langan, Longford.
Manus Island
GEOFF McLean (The Examiner, November 26).
It was interesting, Mr McLean, that you challenged my compassion and queue definition.
There is a queue which starts with people already being considered for asylum, in camps far worse than Manus.
Hundreds of thousand adhering to proper process and protective vetting from terrorists.
In downright atrocious conditions with appalling food, freshwater and health conditions, problems beyond belief.
To protect Australia the government has rightly said no queue jumpers or illegal boat people would be considered for settlement.
You failed to mention my statement on the trashing of humanely built facilities, far better than those waiting in Europe, is that is also forgivable?
I am a proven compassionate person, Mr McLean, and a proud, protective Australian.
However I still have no answers for queue jumpers and feel so sorry for the innocent children who have no say.
Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.
Hottest 100
FOR THE erroneously outraged that Triple J has changed the date for the Hottest 100, some facts.
It was on January 1 for a long time then switched to March before Australia Day, they consulted widely with many of the Aboriginal artists who are on their playlists as well as others before the new proposal. So to say is an Australia Day institution is a misrepresentation and I’d bet none of the complainants would even know what the Hottest 100 even is.
Peter Taylor, Midway Point.
Who to Believe
WHO DO most Tasmanians believe? AMA Tasmanian president Dr Stuart Day, who understands that a report from Deloitte Access Economics commissioned by the government into the state of the Tasmanian Health Service, has identified “serious deficiencies” in the THS executive.
Or our Tasmanian Health Minister Michael Ferguson, who has denied the existence of a report. (The Examiner, December 1). Perhaps it was conveniently lost because it contains disastrous information about this Liberal government that they don’t want the voters to know about before the state election next March.
Mick Leppard, Invermay.
Container Deposit Scheme
THE RECENT ABC program War on Waste now claims that the Victorian and Tasmanian governments are the only ones not considering following South Australia's lead in introducing a container deposit scheme.
Amazingly the South Australian government passed its container deposit legislation way back in 1975 and to its credit have reduced container waste by a massive 80 per cent.
I'm no rocket scientist but a 10c refund (as in South Australia) would overnight do the very same here.
Now won't that go a long way to enhancing our supposedly clean green image.
If South Australia can do container deposit successfully for more than 40 years, any excuse that the smaller size Tasmania has for not doing so is certainly a load of 'rubbish' in more ways than one.
Robert Lee, Summerhill.