Today, the Tasmanian Government is attempting to flood the wilderness with tourism developments.

Cable cars, sprawling lodges, intrusive tracks and squadrons of helicopters – no lake, cove or canyon is deemed too pristine to be spared this noisy new extravaganza.

The government claims that developments will be ‘sustainable’ and ‘sensitive’. What bone-headed claptrap.

The assessments of proposals approved so far have been perfunctory and secretive. The cumulative impact of such developments – and there are dozens proposed – seems to be a non-issue.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service used to enjoy a well-deserved reputation as an excellent manager of world-class reserves. It has now become the lackey of the tourism industry.

With such an uncaring government, such grasping developers and such a feeble regulatory system it is impossible to have confidence in any of the developments in the pipeline.

This combination has the potential to foul up the most benign of facilities and to bring the tourism industry into disrepute. The treatment of our national parks is another case of the government ruling on behalf of developers rather than on behalf of Tasmanian residents.

Geoff Law, Dynnyrne.

WHY do people have three roasts for Christmas dinner instead of one carefully prepared roast with all the trimmings, in these days of obesity problems?

Having spent one Christmas enjoying a meal of roast turkey, roast pork and a ham, I can honestly say none of it was as enjoyable as a simple, old-fashioned roast of just one kind of meat. The blend of three different roasts overwhelmed my taste buds, not to mention my belly.

But more to the point, I wonder that serving so much at Christmas is a symptom of decadence within a post-modern society that denies the true spirit of Christmas.

Laurelle Atkinson, St Helens.

LOTS of young ones in and around Launceston will be sad at the news our Launceston show has closed its gates for the last time.

A lot of us older ones in Launceston are sad as well. Show day has been stricken from the calendar - it was the marker date for the all clear to get into the garden to put our tomatoes and seedlings in.

If the show goes so should the holiday. It was designated so people could get the time to go to the show and if attendances are going down people aren’t using the day for what it stands for.

So no show, no holiday. We can work out a new marker for planting our tomatoes by.

David Parker, West Launceston.

HOW about a big round of applause for our hardworking park keepers – the parks look amazing all year round, no matter the season or the weather.

Launceston residents, interstate and overseas visitors are amazed to learn that our beautiful City Park, Princes Square and the very large immaculate surrounds of the Windmill Hill area are looked after five days a week by a team of just three to four people.

Not only do they work hard, but they are always approachable and polite with any questions visitors may have.

So let us all wish them a very Happy Christmas, some rest and three big cheers for Dale Poke and his team for their amazing work all year round. Let us never take them or our parks for granted.

Julia Yates, Launceston.

JUST a reminder, for people to always keep cash on them when shopping, as I just had a bankcard unable to be read at shops.

Fortunately I had cash on hand, but how embarrassing it would have been to do all the grocery shopping and find your card would not read.

But it could be even worse if one needed transport and miss that important flight.

It will take a couple of weeks to get a new card.

Walter Christy, Shearwater.

“THOSE that fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it” (Winston Churchill).

Bikie turf wars occur in Australia because recreational drugs are illegal.

It is ridiculous that we can legally purchase harmful drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes but not marijuana or ecstasy.

Drug addiction is a result of poverty and abuse. It has little to do with the chemical composition of a certain drug.

Leon Cooper, St Leonards.

ENID Denman (Letters, The Examiner, December 21) questions why we called our elders Mr and Mrs - out of respect, back in the 1960s?

Ms Denman adds “Surely respect should be earned by actions and not acquired by years”. True, as was the case back in the ‘60s with young girls being called miss and boys master.

The respect I have previously mentioned was afforded to all ages of people in the community.

A.R. Trounson, Needles.

WHILE sitting around enjoying Launceston over the Christmas break I have been reading about large companies paying little or no tax in Australia.

My suggestion is to name and shame them, list the products they are selling in Australia along with country of manufacture.

This would allow those of us who wish to boycott their products to do so and support those who are supporting us.

Garry Sutton, Launceston.