Basin Playground
I AM bemused by letters regarding the new “Disneyland” playground at the basin.
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After going on to the councils website and watching video clips and reading the information provided, I fail to see anything remotely like Disneyland?
I understand the necessity to raise the playground, as it is on the flood plain and gets damaged most years when the river floods.
To make a playground that fits in aesthetically with its surrounds should be paramount. In my opinion the playground fits the bill.
The hundreds of children that have visited the pool and playground this summer and continue to do so, in the coming years, will definitely benefit from the council’s foresight.
S. Langerak, Hadspen.
For Tasmania
WE HAVE an election in March, it is a chance to improve Tasmania by putting pressure on the politicians to make sensible changes.
Clear felling must be stopped. Not only is it preventing Tasmania forests from getting environmental accreditation, it either wastes or chips for the low value market over 50 per cent of the timber.
Too often quick growing, but low value pines then replace our extremely valuable native species mainly for use in building when hardwood timber suitable for housing is burnt or chipped.
Hardwood is also the traditional material for fence posts. You can’t buy eight-inch split fence posts for love or money.
A young healthy man can split a hundred posts a day or better, and a quick look on Gumtree reveals that the price is now between $10 and $13 a post.
We are obsessing about the unemployment while allowing big business to trash our forests. Stop burning and chipping the resides, allow young people to get a good start in life through their own endeavours.
It will reduce unemployment, and allow people to purchase their own homes, instead of lining the pockets of mainlanders through a lifetime of rent payments.
John Irvine, George Town.
Police technology
WITH THE imminent state election and the predictable-ubiquitous law and order campaign from both major parties, it may be a time to contemplate the introduction of policing with new technology.
One such example will be the “body-worn camera” by Tasmania Police, where the emphasis on professionalism must be encouraged, any allegations in situations of cameras being turned off, not turned on, or data lost, proceedings with procedural deficits must simply be dismissed.
One police officer’s interpretation of being firm may be experienced by a member of the public as intimidation – this where the body camera is invaluable.
Historically, the introduction of video-taping of police interviews was vigorously opposed by the police association, as it supposedly questioned the honesty of the police.
The persistence and perseverance of one police officer in particular, namely Luppo Prins, was eventually successful, with benefits to all parties.
Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.
Productivity Report
AS A young Tasmanian, it was fantastic to read the Productivity Commission’s report highlighting the wait list times are at record lows in the public health system.
Under the Hodgman government public waiting times for surgery have reduced and to date, for individuals waiting too long this figure sits at 18.3 per cent in June 2017 compared to 43.1 per cent in June 2014.
While the system is not perfect, it’s certainly a lot better than it was just four years ago. Why change when things are improving?
Hannah Israel, Launceston.
Penfriends
MY penfriend of 68 years, Dorothy from Scottsdale, sent me a cutting from The Examiner letters (November 14, 2017) entitled “Letter writing; by Felicity O’Neill.
I agree with everything Ms O’Neill has written.
How sad it is that people have lost the art of letter writing.
I have been a prolific letter writer since i learnt to write at the age of six, writing a short letter to my grandmother, who lived 700 miles away, each week.
I chave had many penfriends during my life (I am now 80) and still write to two in Japan, one in Brazil, one in the US, one in Scotland and four in England.
I still get excited when the postman leaves mail.
Beth Crawford, Strathfield, NSW.
Unsecured load
RECENTLY a person travelled on Greens Beach Road towards the Beaconsfield tip and lost several pieces of sheet metal, one piece about 1.5 metres x 1.5 metres.
That person must have noticed it on the way back from the tip, but didn't pick it up.
Maybe that person may still remove it from the roadside?
Willem Raak, Clarence Point.
Coincidence
IT IS interesting that two events in the Christian year happen on the same day, Wednesday, February 14, this year.
The first is Saint Valentine’s Day, the saint of courtly love, he is also the patron saint of florists and chocolate manufacturers.
The second is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, a fast leading up to Easter.
On this day you can legitimately start eating hot cross buns.
I bet you didn’t know that – I didn’t either, I just made it up.
Malcolm Scott, Newstead.
Negative messages
I WILL not be supporting any business that carries any political corflute or politically divisive message from any political party.
Just saying.
Kerry Weiss, South Launceston.