How much, if any, public consultation was undertaken? Were residents working 9-5 able to attend? I think not.

However, it's reassuring to know that Alderman Janie Finlay thinks the highly populated Northern suburbs is an ideal place for a potentially noxious tyre recycling plant. I wonder where she lives?

The Envronmental Protection Authority, Launceston council and the proponent of the plan, all seem to think that a 'closed loop system' will prevent odours from escaping.

What about the unseen micro particles from the processing and manufacture of the recycled materials?

Already our homes, inside and out, are covered in a fine dust from the racecourse, and during winter we are subject to the odours from the nearby bitumen plant.

Rocherlea resident are showered with concrete dust and now there's the potential for fine rubber tyre particles filling the air-will the EPA be doing air quality checks during the life time of this plant? Let’s not mention the fire hazard.

Once again the Northern suburbs are being treated as an industrial zone, with little concern for the residents’ health and wellbeing. 

Though I do thank Alderman Ted Sands for raising the question of 'odour' on our behalf. 

However,  I note that this question was not answered - so  can we expect a toxic stench over Mowbray once the facility is built and in production? Thank you (not) EPA and council members.

Vicki Jordan, Mowbray.

PURSUANT to the recently witnessed crowd violence at the AFL St Kilda versus Hawthorn match in Launceston, it may be a pertinent time to reflect upon the relationship between alcohol consumption and violence.

This regrettable and ostensible display is a reflection upon a societal contagion that is frequently witnessed, but rarely discussed or exposed for what it is – a form of primitive cowardice.

Coincidentally, one of the AFL’s major sponsors is an international beer company behemoth, whose advertising is witnessed by children on a consistent basis, and for the AFL to express outrage at the violent effects of excessive alcohol consumption, to blame the inaction of security officers, when an act of personal responsibility, and the ethical question of exposing children to the aforementioned sponsorship, is somewhat conveniently outweighed by a dependence from a very questionable income source?

Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.

I TOTALLY agree with Michael Scott’s letter (except for the typo regarding the population in 1963) (The Examiner, April 30).

A unicameral parliament of 35 members with 10 local councils has been my estimate for the right balance for some years. 

Michael Field, a top shelf Labor premier, started the process but hillbilly politics stopped it dead. This state is pretty much a case study in poor governance in terms of its formal structures.

After watching Sue Hickey reveal her true colours the sooner we make the necessary reforms, the better. 

She is no advertisement for local government as a career path for people suitable for public office, quite the opposite, an exemplar of  the unstable, opportunistic numbers game almost unavoidable in a 25-seat house. 

There is a term for a group of individualists when a group effort is required, a rabble. What her predecessor as Lord Mayor of Hobart said about her political skills was the tip of a very ugly iceberg it seems to me.

Why worry about snakes in the grass when they hide in plain sight curled up on an ornate carpet?

Mike Seward, South Launceston.

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants banks to put customers first.

How about practicing what you preach, Mr Turnbull, and put homeless, poor, unemployed, pensioners and low income earners before the wealthy and business tax cuts.

K. Nunn, Newnham.

IT IS almost an astonishing fact that people without a religious faith - refer Steve Saunders (The Examiner, May 4) preach their lack of faith as assertively as the most ardent of Evangelists.  Perhaps this proves that we must all have a faith to hold on to in this life. Alas our personal arrogance might lead us astray in every direction. Thank God we are not as other men.

Len Langan, Longford.

Could anyone please give me the English translation of the Latin inscription on the Launceston General Hospital Trained Nurses ' badge: “Miseris Succurrere Disco”. It is frustrating not knowing.

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

I read in The Examiner (May 2) about Rene Hidding, and how if he resigns he will receive a $1.1 million super payout. I had to check the date of The Examiner, because I thought it must be April Fools day.  

I thought he was elected by the people of Lyons to help them, never at the time of the election was it stated he was going to be the Speaker of the House.

L.Morton, Beaumaris.

The VIEWS of Mr Doddy (The Examiner, April 29) are whole-heartedly endorsed.

Multiple crimes against many, many victims have been committed and admitted. Responsible individuals must face criminal charges, including company board members and executives. Individuals in ASIC should be prosecuted/sacked for negligence. Government members should pay dearly at the ballot box for their obstruction.

John Snooks, West Launceston.