Wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if Hydro Tasmania could play its part in highlighting the natural beauty of the Gorge by significantly increasing Gorge flows for the event.

What a fantastic backdrop that would make for the 800 key tourism stakeholders expected to participate witnessing all that beautiful clean white water thundering its way between the Gorge cliffs; just as it used to do many years ago.

TASNETWORKS has taken the first step towards construction of a second Basslink cable (The Examiner, July 30).

The first cable has proven to be prone to damage with long repair outages, extremely expensive to construct, of questionable revenue value and has a limited life.

There are no guarantees that a second cable would fare any better.

Tasmania could still be the “battery of the nation” with mainland users purchasing power at our shore and providing the second cable.

Also, intermittent energy from wind generators pumping used hydro water back into storage, consumes more electrical energy than it generates.

These costs should not be borne by Tasmanian consumers.

TASMANIANS pay millions each year to enforce drug laws.

Even though there is no evidence that prohibition reduces drug use.

WITH regards to Ron Baines letter on the concern of York  Park if global warning does occur, it is not likely to happen that it be moved to Newnham.

If Invermay did become flooded there would have to be a ferry service from the city, the cost of a move would be astronomical.

We do have some very rich people living in Launceston, but none are likely to fund a move.

I don't really know why, but most well-off people don't like spending their hard earned and simply want more. There are are generous ones, but not many.

I don't think the flooding is going to happen in our lifetime as we are both in our 80s.

I’D LIKE to congratulate Ralph Marshall of Launceston on his recent letter (The Examiner, July 25).

Ralph concludes by saying “we are a society, not an economy”. Spot on, but you wouldn't know it if you observe our political spectrum.

I would just like to add to Ralph's sentiment.

Yes, we do live in a society, not an economy. And that society exists at the pleasure of a very fragile environment.

Logically, that should be our major priority.

THE decision by the state government to recognise the viability of the Launceston and  North-East Heritage rail proposal is good news for Lilydale. 

Disappointing though for Scottsdale and those along the railway east of Lilydale who hoped to benefit from rail passenger traffic.

Unfortunately the rail service will be locked out of the valuable scenic destination through the Denison Gorge and ironically the railway tunnel through the Denison Range. 

If 20km of this valuable industrial heritage is worth saving, why not all of it?

If bureaucrats and politicians want to give both ideas the nod and see who is the better let the rail advocates run their trains for say two years and see if it is viable and if it doesn't pan out then let the cycle fraternity rip up the tracks.

As it stands the proposal tears up the tracks in favour of the cyclists and if they don't produce the touted tourism outcome then who is going to rebuild the railway for the rail proposal? No one. 

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Let the rail enthusiasts have a go then if it fails the cyclists will still be there or is cycling going to go out of fashion? 

The sad part about the proposal is that they wish to stop the rail before one of it's best attractions the tunnel.

THE dispute over the North-East rail trail has not gone very well with the rail side of the argument. The government has made a statement to try and resolve the issue, but as usual the decision can’t be a simple one, no its more complicated and does little in making everyone happy.  

Why couldn’t a decision to have both side by side on a combined bike trail rail trail. But that would be much too easy a solution to fix it. May be a little more expensive, but  attractive to visitors.

I would like to know how destroying more of the North-East rail line for an extension of the under utilised recreation trail will benefit tourism and employment opportunities in the North-East region? 

What pop-up businesses have been created along the existing section? 

The condition of this line would make any other tourist rail in the country green with envy. Where is the tourism diversity in the bicycle obsessed Dorset Council?