It seems one of the contributing factors is property owners converting to Airbnb to take advantage of the burgeoning tourist industry.

While it is good that tourism is thriving, did any of those who campaigned against large local industries, and said that tourism would be the answer to all our problems ever consider that this would result in discrimination against permanent residents in favour of floating population of tourists.

Do we really want to live in a society where the less privileged can’t find a home, and only the well-off tourists are worthy of respect?

Property owners can’t really be forced to only use their properties in one certain way. Only if we have a balanced economy where all industries and those who work in them are treated equally and with respect.

Can all members of society expect equal treatment in regard to housing?

MONTHS out from a state election the Liberals have lost it with their negative TV campaigning and I say this as a former city-branch vice-president of the Tasmanian Young Liberals.

I feel the Libs need to get out into the community and listen to what community expectations are.

The other parties are doing just this and these ads show the Liberals are rightfully running scared because of underfunding, waiting lists of all sorts are happening across the state. People are suffering because of these delays and yet money is being squandered on television advertising just to try and push the Liberal point not to vote for these other parties.

Liberal politicians are here to serve not to try and tell us how we must vote. And please, give us a break Will Hodgman; your ads are no better with all your ‘we will’ promises.

My question to you, “We Will Will”? Why haven’t you?

CITY of Launceston's new general manager, Michael Stretton, rightly identifies the Cataract Gorge as Launceston's key opportunity and tourism drawcard (The Examiner, January 9).  

He is right, but it is blindingly obvious that this magnificent natural icon is severely compromised by the loss of its river.  

The South Esk is Tasmania's second largest, but we could be excused for not knowing that, when all that is left is a small creek, which dribbles through the First Basin and the Gorge. So much environmental and economic good would come from restoring the South Esk to its proper course.  

As Ian Kidd, with a PhD on the subject said recently: "Act with nature for a chance of success, act against nature for certain failure".  

That failure is now obvious and has been the subject of countless committees, reports, enquiries and suggestions from the public, but the cheapest and best solution is obvious and not difficult.  Photographs before the diversion to Trevallyn, show a clean and healthy Yacht Basin, which can be restored tomorrow at no net cost, with the closing of a valve.  

Trevallyn power station, which has diverted about 97 per cent of the South Esk, generates less than 3 per cent of Tasmania's hydro electricity.

In a good year, HydroTas makes profits of about $1 million each week and a 3 per cent loss of turnover should be easily accommodated within the offsetting community benefit. There are obvious and valuable advantages of flushing and diluting the Yacht Basin and restoring the Cataract to the Gorge. Government might do well to consider instructing Hydro accordingly.

I TOTALLY agree with Brian Hodgson (The Examiner, January 10).

I walk my dog along the Inveresk boardwalk everyday and almost everyday I see dog owners walking with dogs off lead (Inveresk is an on-lead area only).

Our dog has been attacked twice by off-leash large dogs while the owners could not care less. I have contacted the council, who said they would monitor Inveresk.

I have never seen a council employee on all of my walks talking to people who are not doing the right thing with their dogs. Heritage Park is only five minutes away is an off-leash area.

IT NEVER ceases to amaze me that people complain and whinge about non receipt of these “gifts” on time. For heaven’s sake, they are something you are getting for nothing, smile and appreciate it rather that complain that it was late. 

You can never satisfy some people.

I AGREE with Len Langan with regards to the mail  from the UK. 

We too had Christmas cards posted on December 11, also two posted on December 6, all with air mail plus one parcel, dated December 1, all of which arrived on January 3.

Something is very wrong somewhere and I don’t think it is with the UK mailing system.

IN RELATION to recent letters on people crossing the road unsafely, one is reminded of an iconic record album cover in 1969.

It was then that four young men from Liverpool, England, Paul, John, Ringo, and George showed the world's pedestrians (and we all are one of them at some stage during the day) how to cross a street, the safest way possible - via  a pedestrian crossing. 

The street in Camden, The City of Westminster in London, is called none other than 'Abbey Road'.

There's a VW 'Beatle’ in the background, no prizes on who I'm talking about.