Latest data reveals 276 people drowned across Australia over the past year, which is a 10 per cent jump on the previous year.

A significant number of these deaths happened in summer.

It is of great concern that 101 people drowned in inland waterways and there were 122 coastal drowning deaths, including 71 on beaches.

It is also of enormous concern that in the past 12 months, 584 people have been hospitalised as a result of non-fatal drowning incidents.

Some of these people will sadly end up with irreversible brain damage. We do not want to see tragedy taking place.

Readers must supervise children at all times around water.

We urge everybody to learn swimming and essential lifesaving skills including first aid and CPR.

We urge people to swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags and adopt a STOP, LOOK, PLAN approach to water safety.

We know that risk-taking behaviour, often involving alcohol and drugs is having a clear impact on drowning rates.

Poor swimming skills are also a factor.

It is vital to wear a lifejacket when boating, rock fishing and using watercraft.

Too many people are drowning in Australian waters.

Taking simple steps will make all the difference.

One practical step all readers can take is to visit our websites to obtain more hands-on tips and information.

Simply visit www.royallifesaving.com.au and www.sls.com.au.

I WOULD like to congratulate the local family who decided to upgrade our local Westbury supermarket.

What a wonderful asset it is for our village.

I am sure it has been very stressful for the owners over the past couple of years to get the project to where it is today. It has created more employment, it has given locals a huge selection of products and easy access with ample parking. Westbury is starting to become self sufficient with new businesses popping up within the area, and older ones stating to thrive. Once again congratulations on an outstanding achievement.

INSTEAD of spending millions of dollars on a new prison here in the North, the Tasmanian Government would be better off spending it on keeping people out of prison in the first place. To this end, there needs to be more drug and alcohol rehab centres, homeless shelters and social enterprises like the Backtrack Boys program in NSW.

There, youths who are headed on a downward spiral to jail are managed in caring and empowering ways to boost their self-worth and lessen their descent into crime. Recidivism has decreased and many have found jobs. Surely this would be a much more positive way of using the money?

ANOTHER "Shopping in the City" (The Examiner, September 28) report fails to understand the fundamental issues facing the continuing decline of Launceston's CBD.

As long as the Launceston CBD fails to create the safety, ambience and convenience of suburban shopping centres, the city's retail situation will never improve.

MY wife and I are relatively new settlers in Launceston, coming from Victoria. We are impressed by the friendliness of Launceston citizens. We reckon that if you stand on the same spot for one minute, a person will ask if they can be of assistance - wonderful. Two local businesses have shown amazing generosity in their willingness to help us in tight situations and we would like to thank them. Hats off to Tasfreight and Leighton Spring works - true ambassadors for Launceston.

WHAT a great letter from Lynn Giunta (The Examiner, September 23). I too have travelled the line many years ago and it was a great trip. To compare it with other tourist trains in Tasmania is like comparing cheese and chalk. The train on the West Coast has been rebuilt completely in very rough terrain. Unfortunately, Queenstown does not get the tourist trade like the rest of the state.

Firstly, this track is already there and does not need a lot of work done to it. It was mentioned in an earlier letter that the track would need to be straightened and it was in poor condition. Secondly, the train has access to a lot more people as it is only 15 minutes from a major airport and one and a half hours from a major port. More people have easier access to the train. Thirdly, the train could bring a lot of business to places like Lilydale, Bridestowe Lavender farm and Scottsdale. And last but not least, the bike trail is for a select few only.

The bike riding tourists are few and far between and in all reality, they do not spend a lot of money on the local business community. The government should go back to the drawing board on this issue and start to back the rail. Also, l have heard little from the tourism council on this issue. They need to move now.

TO EVEN suggest an AFL team in Tasmania is probably a pipe dream for most of us mad fans. I heard that the cost of running a team for a year would cost $20 million.

Where would the money come from?

Our population doesn't warrant it. I'm afraid that we are minnows in that regard.