Sixty years ago, 95 per cent of the South Esk, Tasmania’s second largest river was diverted away from the Gorge to generate electricity at Trevallyn.  

Since then the importance of the Gorge and its river as Launceston’s main attractions have taken on new value and is a crucial offering to Launceston’s citizens and the rapidly growing tourist industry.  

The diversion of the river left a small creek and many problems as the small flow is unable to carry out the historic task of flushing and cleansing the First Basin, Yacht Basin, Seaport and Silo Home Reach.  

Other than during an occasional flood, we are denied the splendour of that rushing river, which has been nature’s legacy since the dawn of time.  

The Trevallyn power station is old and it is time that Tas Hydro was asked to prepare a study to maintain the dam, but close the diversion and power station, restoring the river to generate in its original course.  

An election promise to give back the Cataract Gorge would be widely supported by most citizens, particularly those of us old enough to remember the Gorge and its mighty river as it was.

HAVING spent two hours on Sunday afternoon in City Park listening to the Caledonian Pipe Band and the Launceston Brass Band,  I have to commend the city council on providing and parks and gardens staff for maintaining this beautiful public recreation area.  

The weatherman blessed us with a perfect day and hundreds of people sat on green grass under magnificent spreading shady trees enjoying a picnic with their families and friends, with music provided by two local bands. The vista was breathtaking, and I thought how blessed are the inhabitants of Launceston and surrounds, to have this wonderful open space in which to spend some of their leisure hours.

I READ Deb Johnston-Andrews letter (The Sunday Examiner, January 13) and first I thought it was a tongue-in-cheek letter, but when you read on its quite serious. How can anyone be upset at the development on the old wharf site and Silos it has developed a nothing site into a place where people can go and eat or just socialise over a cup of coffee. Then we have the choppers like there is a squadron of them and by the way, you missed the jet flights that fly over each day from Jetstar and Virgin maybe we could go back to Zeppelins to avoid those.

It’s called progress. We can’t drive around in horse and buggies anymore. The development in this city since I came here in 1980 is outstanding. The wharf area, Silos Hotel, Penny Royal complex, CH Smith Building and UTAS Stadium to name a few.

That’s the trouble with some sections of this city, they don’t want to move ahead. There are plenty of places left in this “little oasis” the Gorge, Trevallyn recreation area and many other., I am not progress at any cost, but what we have has enhanced this city and the people that live in it.