Apparently, according to Mayor Howard and four councillors, "it would open the floodgates to political correctness". It's not opening the floodgates at all. Acknowledgement is showing respect to First Peoples and understanding that over the past 200 years plus that First Peoples are finally being acknowledged in everyday life.

Opening the gates of political correctness wasn't so scary when women were given the vote, women are able to take out bank loans without a male signatory, workplaces cannot discriminate on religion, sex, race sexual orientation, racism became illegal, marriage equality became legal, equal pay has become the forefront of everyday discussion as has violence against women and children, women are in the armed forces, women breaking the glass ceiling as CEOs in the corporate world, a female prime minister and now, finally, our first Indigenous federal minister for Indigenous Affairs.

Only took us 200 plus years but hey, "opening the floodgates" seems to supporting an egalitarian society in Australia. Acknowledgement to country certainly won't cost us a cent nor will it diminish a progressive Dorset Council.

MARK Thomas is absolutely correct when he says journalism is important, and the protection of good regional journalism is essential if the health of local communities is to be maintained. (The Examiner, July 1).

All levels of government like to claim we live in a healthy democracy, but it will struggle to remain healthy if decisions being made in our name are made without journalists in the room.

We need those skilled journalists to provide communities with knowledgeable, detailed and balanced commentary about what those decisions might involve, why they are considered necessary, and how they could affect our livelihoods and way of life.

Stories about people and events in our own backyard are important. They help unify us and make communities stronger.

People that ignore the importance of local stories, and surrender their right to freely question, contradict, or agree with potentially controversial local issues or projects that are under discussion by governments, developers, or corporates, risk losing their stake in a functioning and healthy society.

Without the journalists to expose the issues, ask the difficult questions, and dig a little deeper into what might be at stake - and how we could all be affected - our once-healthy democracy could end up looking more like a dictatorship.

FORGIVE me if I'm cynical but suddenly Scott Morrison is Donald Trump's best friend and warrants a state dinner at the White House. It wouldn't be because the Don wants our Scott to commit our troops for the former's pet project - destroy Iran? If so I hope our PM has the courage to tell Donald what he can do. Otherwise, it will be another Vietnam, Iran, Libya or Afghanistan where the US can't win and the latter two are basket cases.

I AM writing to you with just one of the many concerns regarding the Skyway development proposal.

I have studied the proponents' website of the proposal for gondolas in the Gorge with care.

With this in mind, after I completed my zigzag walk in the Gorge, I had a coffee at the café overlooking the playground and basin to see what effect the infrastructure would have on what is now a peaceful and beautiful view.

One that is therapeutic for many a troubled mind.

Nowhere in the video does the proponent show the towers that are to be built on the hills opposite, even though they are clearly marked on the plan.

There are no fewer than 11 enormous cable carrying towers (one is 23 metres high) to be built on those hills with gondolas crisscrossing the view from the café and bridge.

I find the video disturbingly misleading as it gives a narrow and totally false impression of the final result.

I would ask anyone who is interested in this proposal to go into the café in the Gorge, sit down and look through those windows with the Gondola plans in his or her hands, and visualise just what is being suggested before agreeing to accept a development that would surely destroy its natural beauty.

Such places of peace so close to a city are rare indeed.

THE charm of our own Cataract Gorge is under threat by the proposal of an imposing gondola system.

I think this development would have a grossly negative impact on the natural ambience of the Gorge, cutting through the view and the intimate spaces that we value.

The current chairlift is suited to the space; it's cute, it's old school.

But the gondola will impose a much heavier presence.

Do we want people watching us from overhead when we are walking in nature, swimming in the pool, meeting with friends and family?

I would hate to see our community space ruined by this monstrosity.

Mona Foma's art installation, Man, had people flocking to Launceston.

And the sense of reverence it inspired is what the Gorge deserves.