North-East Railway
Regarding the railway route from Launceston to Scottsdale, we have recently completed walking the route (a piece at a time) and this is what we found:
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- There is a wide variety of scenery mostly farmland.
- Unfriendly dogs are a common encounter.
- It is easy to get access to walk the rail line at regular crossings.
- Several bridges are not safe to cross with the rails hanging out over open space in places with a long drop to the river below.
- The rails are twisted and bent and the sleepers in very poor shape in places. This is not a track that could be brought back into use with current sleepers and rails without a lot of replacement.
- Some people live in the old railway settlements all along the way even though they are not commercial towns like Lilydale. There is an opportunity for people to service the users of the line whether they are on foot, on bikes or a slow railway if they wanted to provide such as coffees.
- The route is quite windy and would need to be straightened to go any faster than dead slow.
- With many steep cuttings and high built-up sections, widening it would be unfeasible.
- So, could we have a different type of train - a wheeled affair with single cars for one person, and twin cars for two, towed by a driver? To share the road with walkers and riders.
Jan Horton, West Launceston.
Scam phone calls
I HAVE come up with a better way to stop scammers calling.
I have left a voice message on my phone, saying "sadly I cannot answer the phone anymore if you are a genuine caller please leave a message, if you are a scammer please just go away".
It has worked so well. The only scammer message I get is a tape recording, saying about the NBN being cut off in three months. This message I have been getting for over a year now and my NBN server said it has nothing to do with them.
As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them at their own game.
L. Morton, Beaumaris.
Electricity
TROUBLE is when you're brought up on a diet of reliable electricity it's a tad difficult to believe there exists any other kind.
Gordon Thurlow, Launceston.
Invermay Traffic Bandaids
REVIEWING the announcement that a new Mowbray roundabout will be going ahead confirms what many are saying and thinking. Decisions have already been made with little or no consultation.
It seems clear that the new proposed traffic lights and intersections will go ahead anyway.
Whilst the new roundabout concept is a much-needed safety improvement etc won't it simply transfer more normal and heavy traffic to Invermay Road.
No need to wait at traffic lights at Bunnings or McDonalds' intersections anymore.
Truckies will always take the shortest and most convenient route.
Having the misfortune to follow a B-Triple log truck up Invermay Road recently confirms this is already happening.
Why hasn't Toll been recommended or encouraged to move to Breadalbane and utilise the growing industrial precinct there?
Is it true that land originally allocated and ready for the eastern bypass has either been sold or rezoned by the LCC?
The population of Launceston has increased since the original proposal was put forward, defeating the excuse used at that time not to build this road.
Are there any load limits in place on Invermay Road? No, it would seem given the extent of damage already apparent.
Why does a football team receive its single lane boulevard that has compounded the problem from the day it was established?
It questions the decision making of local and state government personnel. Maybe our new federal Liberal representative has some views?
Warren Clark, Invermay.
American Stupidity
ONE must wonder at the seeming stupidity of the American people that they continue to tolerate the right to bear arms.
Almost weekly massacres must sicken most citizens. They can look to Australia, and now New Zealand, where a single mass shooting was enough to convince the population on gun control.
The irony is that the mass of Americans should not have guns, although across the country there are more guns than people.
I am sure if the country held a plebiscite the majority would say enough is enough.
Let's do away with this right which has no basis of need in our modern society.
Dick James, Launceston.
Stillbirth babies
TO Kerryn Foley (The Examiner, August 7) I am sad for you. You sound so hurt, hurt without grieving.
Ellena Bisset and The Examiner are indeed to be commended, as you say, for the front-page article and the following coverage in (The Examiner, August 3).
My husband and I experienced a stillbirth over 40 years ago when we were told to go home and forget about this, as no doubt were many other couples.
It is wonderful that today such different advice, help and professional support is offered.
A heart indeed beats at four weeks.
Surely the sign, to which you refer, is an expression of love for the unborn child indicating how precious that unborn child is.
Babies enrich the world with love and hope. In time, I feel that Ellena and Adam's life will be enriched by Blair Ann.
I sincerely hope so.