This situation has more or less been this way for the last 20 years.

In 2015/16 the Great Lake was virtually drained, being reduced to 11 per cent of its capacity.

If a radical change in water management strategy for the Great Lake is not implemented immediately the disaster of 2015/16 will occur again.

The Central Highland Shack Owners Association proposes that Great Lake water usage be managed to bring the lake to at least 70 per cent of its capacity in a five-year period, and once having reached that level never go below it, except in very exceptional circumstances. 

The association is simply saying, use the top half of the lake not the bottom half. The cost will be the use of that water differential once off.

There are many advantages in adopting such a simple and effective management strategy. Power proofing the state is the obvious one.

Ken Last, Forth.

I WRITE in regards to the subject of dual naming of our towns, cities and landmarks.

While I understand change is hard for some people, I don't understand how dual naming has come to make people uncomfortable. 

I have grown up most of my 32 years with people telling me I am not who I am.

In high school a teacher went as far as to attempt to fail me on a subject because he was self-assured that we were no longer in existence. 

Since my father was on the other end of the state and my mother is white, I had to rely on a well-respected cousin to come in and correct the issue. 

The teacher was relentless in his attitude and even after having a very angry black woman in front of him, he continued to deny my people.

It's incidents like this that plague our community to this day. 

Dual naming is a small way we can help to rectify the denial of history and the denial of us. 

The names used for dual naming are usually those recorded as the names for those areas or landmarks when Europeans were making contact with our people.

It takes nothing away from what the current names are, if anything it adds to them and it shows respect to this land and the culture that has been a part of it for thousands of years.

Thomas Riley, New Town.

UNPLANNED pregnancies mostly affect women of low socioeconomic status who are more likely to receive inadequate parental care, to consume alcohol, to be depressed, to smoke and to experience domestic violence before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Unplanned pregnancies also increase the risk of a preterm delivery, low birth weight that may contribute to the increased risk of health and developmental problems for the baby.

A free contraception program for all Australian women who want to prevent unplanned pregnancies will lower their risk of experiencing the emotional trauma experienced by those who have undergone surgical abortions.

It will give women the power to control their education, their earning potential and to structure their lives as they choose.

With birth control pills and the morning after pill available at no cost from pharmacies and also with no cost and free access to long-term contraceptives solutions delivered by authorised health professionals, this basic socialised healthcare program will promote gender equality and independence for all Australian women.

Vicki Wood, Carrick.

THE recent much celebrated meeting between President Trump of the US and Kim Jong Un of North Korea, reminds me of a similar much lauded meeting between Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, of Great Britain, and Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, in 1938. 

"Peace in our time" was the claim and banner headline. We know the outcome. Makes you think.

Wayne Kerrison, Riverside.

OFTEN our health system is criticised but after just spending three weeks at Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital in Launceston I have nothing but praise and thanks to all the staff. The surgeon David Lloyd, the doctors, nurses and staff at St Vincent’s provided me with first-class treatment.

Their compassion and caring during my stay at a difficult time contributed to my full recovery. We are extremely lucky to have such a quality medical facility with experienced professional, caring staff.

Wayne Turner, Newnham.

I WONDER should we all approach the City of Launceston council with a view to growing edible plants on our nature strips.

Afterall, it seems we are expected to take care of them. I expect some keen gardeners would jump at the chance, incidentally, I am not one.

I’m not a gardener, but I’m sure neighbours would be OK with donating their lawn clippings.

Incidentally if the council needs some more trees for the Brisbane Street Mall redevelopment, we have two melaleuca trees in our street we would be happy to donate, I reiterate, more than happy.

Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.

WITH about 25 producers, the state’s gin industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years (The Examiner, June 8). With only “one” drug and alcohol rehabilitation service for the entire north of the state, the waiting list for such has “also experienced unprecedented growth in recent years”. Coincidental?

A.R. Trounson, Needles.