Quadrant Mall
I was in the Quadrant Mall and I couldn't but help notice the empty shops – I counted nine empty.
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This should be a matter of great alarm for the CBD and City of Launceston council with the latter having spent millions upgrading this area. Obviously, there needs to be an urgent investigation into why this has happened, my guess is that the rents are too high in which case the owners need to have a good look at what they are achieving.
Another, of course, is parking costs. If these two factors are allowed to continue there will be no CBD.
I think there needs to be a high-rise car park built on the site behind the old Birchalls and Myer stores which should only have a minimal charge for a breakeven factor and be subsidised jointly by the council and CBD occupiers.
Additionally, perhaps the CBD occupiers should get together and look to encourage new occupants of a different variety not seen elsewhere such as a dedicated Lego shop, Spaghetti Factory with multiple dishes as was in Sydney by Circular Quay, email/Wifi shop, a Tasmanian-only shop and more.
The site of so many empty shops in such a small area is really very alarming for our city, I was stunned and shocked into writing.
Peter Newsom, East Launceston.
Food vans
Another experiment by the City of Launceston council for the CBD.
This time they are wanting food vans in the Brisbane Street Mall to activate it.
If anything needs activating it's the newly tarted up mall which, on Saturday morning, was anything but activated.
Do they want to trundle food vans in so that they can drip oil on the nice bland pavers, and customers can chuck rubbish everywhere?
If they want to encourage businesses to use the mall, why don't they allow Coffee Republic to set out their tables as they used to?
Not only does that business have great coffee but at least human beings used to be able to sit and drink it.
Now they can even commune with the Tassie tigers.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
Pill Testing
In response to Tim Nilsson (The Examiner, February 10) I am appalled that anyone who cares about young people would consider the provision of pill testing for them at festivals as safe to consume if tested.
It smacks of a reckless paternalistic attitude to young people who are impressionable.
Prevalent in our society today is the notion that it is possible to keep our young people safe from all harm by removing the risks of harm.
Where is the responsible adult approach where children are informed about the harms out there all around them and how to be able to say no?
This responsibility rests with parents/carers not with the overburdened education system.
Testing a pill is not going to make drug taking safer nor will it save young lives. The testing process would be limited only to known substances so other more lethal substances will not be traced.
The best and most honest thing to do for young people, is to educate them well regarding the dangers of drugs per se, prescription drugs too, which can be on offer out there for those innocents abroad who may think they are safe if a doctor prescribed them!
No pill testing, more honesty about the dangers of drugs and more education of young people by responsible adults is a much safer option.
Mary T. Bates, Exeter.
Optus ads
Could you please explain to me why chicken and plain salt on chips has to be associated with Optus?
Maybe in my old age, I am becoming demented.
There are quite a few ads that have very strange associations. Possibly people who think them up have my affliction or have a twisted sense of humour.
Cecil Guy, Youngtown.
Trump’s wall
I wish to express my extreme disgust at the disgraceful behaviour of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in an attempt to subvert the will of parliament.
We have a genuine national disaster – Townsville. Thousands of homes damaged or lost and 500,000 cattle lost.
However, the LNP have wasted half a billion dollars in a desperate attempt to emulate Trump’s national emergency call for a wall and dream up another Tampa.
That equates to $1000 for every beast lost, I am sure the farmers would welcome that sort of payout.
We need an election now.
P G McMurray, Lilydale.
Great Barrier Reef
IN (The Examiner, February 14) I read the Greens want to spend some available money $444 million on the Great Barrier Reef.
I realise the reef is a national treasure, but so are the farmers.
They have suffered through years of drought, but they carry on, now they have floods and their stock is dying, it breaks my heart like many people I know.
These farmers are doing it so hard, they are our national treasure.
How do these people in the Greens party sleep at night, oh of course in a warm cosy bed, without a worry in the world?