Launceston has a sewage overflow problem. Dam Ti Tree Bend and create large settling ponds that can be treated at a later stage. Build a loch in Hunters Cut and create a freshwater lake. Removing the silt would be made easier because we could control the level of the lake. 

Water from the Tailrace and lake would be directed through the West Tamar wetlands and would turn that into a vast freshwater wetland. The water from the wetlands would be returned to the river estuary with little pollution and silt, thus restoring the health of the Tamar River.

This plan would create employment and tourism. Launceston would become a tourist attraction and the freshwater could be sold to farmers, primary producers.

This is only a summary of the potential of this plan and could make Launceston great.

It is totally annoying that producers are continuing to put little plastic labels on each piece of fruit. What purpose it serves I cannot imagine as it is possible to identify sources by other means, as clearly exemplified with the strawberry needle saga where the source and ultimately the culprit were identified. For the consumer, it is a total pain having to remove tightly adhering little bits of plastic before consuming the fruit.  

It also means another element in polluting our environment. I appeal to environment ministers to stop this practice.

A typical day driving in Launceston’s streets. I’m driving a Ford Territory along Innes Street when a large AWD vehicle in white, a nice highly visible colour you’d think, but not big enough nor visible enough for the imbecile in a blue sedan who did a U-turn directly in front of me outside Chemist Warehouse. Fortunately, the Territory has excellent brakes. Just as well.

Then there was the four-wheel drive that failed to give way at an intersection. This was followed, on my way home by witnessing two idiots on a motorbike burst out of a side street along Penquite Road right under the nose of the car in front of me, which was forced to brake hard.

These sort of things, combined with other transgressions like the mini Mount Panorama circuit that erupts on the (still 60k/ph zone) lead into the Northern Outlet from the Forster Street intersection, make me think that, far from our road toll being tragically high at times, it is miraculously low.

Please, not another round of talking about the North East rail trail.

Why can’t each group of people just sit down together and join forces to put both rail and trail ideas into one and have both for the good of all groups, that up till now just seem to be at loggerheads with each other and getting nowhere fast.

This project could have been up and running now if people would just take in each other's views and work together for all concerned.

AUSTRALIAN political parties do more harm than good.

It is proposed that all political parties and political donations be abolished for the benefit of voters and most MPs.

A standard electioneering allowance will be paid by the government, to be returned if the candidate fails to get 5 per cent of the vote.

Worthy men and women will be free to stand for parliament without the restriction of party pre-selection.

Voting will no longer be influenced by how the two party leaders come across in the media or by family political tradition.

Electors will vote according to the merits of candidates, knowing that the incumbent will be free to champion the cause of that electorate without party constraint.

General elections will be held every four years.

After each general election, every MP will submit a name, excluding their own, to be considered for prime minister.

The lower house will then elect the prime minister from a short list of two MPs, the maximum tenure being two terms.

He or she will be removed by a 75 per cent majority no-confidence vote.

The prime minister will form a cabinet, and it will no longer be subjected to a party or party faction pressure, often poll-driven.

Question time will no longer degenerate into an embarrassing slanging match between the two party leaders.

In proposing a bill a minister will no longer resort to party mantra and/or anti-opposition diatribe and will have to persuade the majority of MPs that it is a sound piece of legislation.

This proposal will be vehemently opposed by those with a vested interest in the party system,

such as MPs who strongly rely on the party system for election, party puppeteers and Machiavellian kingmakers.