Traffic bypass
FOR years the traffic bottleneck at the junction of Goderich and Lindsay streets has been getting steadily worse yet no-one has come up with a satisfactory solution.
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Maybe a different approach is needed.
Has it ever occurred to the powers that be than not everyone using this road actually wants to stop in the city centre?
At the moment the only alternative is to take a circuitous route through the eastern suburbs, which doesn’t really save any time, or take a huge detour through Prossers Road to Nunamara or via the West Tamar.
Most cities or large towns have a way to be bypassed, but not Launceston.
It’s about time Launceston council decided to bite the bullet and started to make plans to build an eastern bypass, which would provide a better safer alternative to the present unacceptable situation.
Malcolm McCulloch, Pipers River.
Palliative Care Week
THE Friends of Northern Hospice acknowledge National Palliative Care Week 2018 with the theme “What Matters Most?”
Why is this the 11th year that the people of Northern Tasmania do not have ready access to a unit dedicated solely to providing end of life care?
On January 18, 2014, prior to the March state election, Health Minister Michael Ferguson spoke of his support for such a facility in front of 300 hospice supporters.
However, the promised feasibility study failed to assess the possibility of establishing a hospice, and merely endorsed the existing services.
These have now declined (district nurses no longer provide palliative services here), despite the study stating services were adequate for the next 20 years.
We know that if such a facility were available, terminally ill patients could avoid being admitted to inappropriate wards within the hospital.
So we issue a challenge to the government to achieve excellence in palliative care in Northern Tasmania by establishing a dedicated hospice.
The benchmark for this is established in many places including Hobart and Canberra, but for politicians past and present, it appears end of life care in Northern Tasmania “Matters Least”.
Lyn Irwin, Chair, Friends of Northern Hospice.
Churches
I BELIEVE the Anglican Church should keep the magnificent historic Evandale Church.
While they have a congregation I don't believe these properties are the church's to sell.
My mother's great-grandfather, William Stammers Button, the first mayor of Launceston, helped Reverand John West build the Independent Church in Prince's Square.
My father was a Methodist Minister and I became a Scientology Minister (now retired).
All churches were built by donations and efforts of local people.
The parishioners were not responsible for Child Abuse, a plague affecting many institutions sacred and secular.
This was a failing of clergy to detect and deal with abuses.
As only a quarter of funds raised is to go to compensation, surely sale of rectories might instead help cover costs?
At least another solution could be found.
Pews may be emptying fast, as the older generation passes on, but why inflict such destruction when in future times a formula may be found to fill them once more?
Aside from religion these churches a monuments to the lives of our ancestors, their hopes for the future, the suffering so often in their lives.
I know of two churches in Victoria that became night spots. Please defend our heritage.
David Griffiths, Ocean Vista.
Qualifications
MALCOLM Scott (Letters, The Examiner, May 19) has me intrigued when he raises the new Speaker's success as Hobart's Lord Mayor.
Has me wondering what constitutes success in such a position.
It can’t be how long the position has been held or what success was gained in a subsequent mayoral election.
It is my belief that she was a first-time mayor and has not faced such an election.
Nor can it be that she ran up a couple of flags, which doesn't leave many achievements. Incidentally, I agree that Launceston's mayor would be an ideal choice for the other position mentioned, but believe that he would think his role with City Mission somewhat more important.
Denis Palmer, Newnham.
Tour To Nowhere?
THE latest Tassal thank you for people taking tours of their proposed offshore fishing venture(s), may be an exclusive exercise for the converted, as I had placed my name with another person, in good faith, to be part of the excursion, venturing out with an open mind to witness insitu the latest innovation by Tassal, with an electronic, automated response that the public company would be in contact with the necessary details.
Unfortunately, we were figuratively left on the wharf, pondering what may have been, and consequently thanked for our participation and time, by a Tassal media release.
Was this a form of false advertising, or one of selective amnesia.
Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.
Politicians
IT IS quite possible that our politicians are trying to be as out of touch as possible.
So that many Australians do not even bother to enrol to vote.
Many that do choose to write expletives on their ballot paper.
High school students should be educated about our preferencial voting system, so that they are aware that they do not have to vote 1 for the other major political party.
Leon Cooper, St Leonards.