Lake Pedder
THE Greens can't have it both ways. The now magnificent Lake Pedder, created by building three new dams is providing much needed Hydropower to Tasmania. Without the output from the resulting power stations we would surely have to rely on unsustainable energy sources to make up the shortfall. Is that what the Greens want?
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The Bell Bay station would need to be powered by coal or gas or oil. Hydropower is the most economical. Even wind turbines are costly and use a lot of resources to manufacture.It seems Bob Brown and Christine Milne are looking for a new issue to divide our community. The beauty of the present Lake Pedder outweighs the old one which was inaccessible to many. Only the hardy bushwalkers or plane passengers ever saw it. I have enjoyed several visits there since the new lake was formed and marvel at the wonderful scenery of the lake.
W Burbury, Newstead.
Westbury Prison
THE $270 million Northern Regional Prison will be built two kilometres north of Westbury (The Examiner, September 30). Corrections minister Elise Archer will announce the location for the 270-bed, maximum security Northern prison on Monday.
As a long-term homeless Tasmanian, I can't wait to see how Ms Archer can justify spending $1 million per bed? A warm cell and three-square a day. Oh how I dream.
A R Trounson, Needles.
Shopping Patterns
WHILE reading the article by Louise Grimmer (The Examiner, October 4) which is actually and indictment of our changing shopping patterns. I wonder did she consider that we may be shopped out with a house full of everything?
Take me as an example. I am 82 years old and I do enjoy shopping (mostly food nowadays). Let's have a peek into my wardrobe.
Twenty-three pairs of shoes, a few pairs of steel cap boots, two pair of gumboots, four pairs of slippers, and four pairs of faux crocs, 93 t-shirts, printed, sundry unprinted, 20 pairs of trousers and few suits, numerous coats, once of which I bought in London when I was 21 years old. It's OK, but for a couple of holes where a moth or two had a feed. I've had a lot of years to indulge myself and like many others I can't resist a bargain, but I'll have to be strong.
Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.
Parks and Wildlife
ON a recent early morning walk within the Trevallyn State Recreation area I found an obviously injured wallaby. On ringing the Parks and Wildlife Service Injured and Orphaned Wildlife Program I got a recorded message advising me to ring Bonorong Wildlife Rescue, which I did.
I asked the operator if the Parks and Wildlife Service, who were only 300 metres away, would attend and she said no, stating that she would send a message out to volunteers to assist. One would think that wildlife preservation might be part of Parks and Wildlife Service core business, but their mission statement says: "To create and maintain a representative and world-renowned reserve system. To conserve the State's natural and cultural heritage while providing for sustainable use and economic opportunities for the Tasmanian community".
No mention of wildlife, perhaps they should be renamed the parks service?
Stephen Coombs, Trevallyn.
Aged care packages
THE Editorial (The Examiner, October 2), informed us that 16,000 older people died while waiting for an aged care package last year in Australia. How many packages would Prime Minister Scott Morrison's generous gift of $150 million to the US space program have purchased? Shame PM, shame on you.
Dr Kim Wylie PhD, Prospect Vale.
Disability support
LIBERAL senator for Tasmania Wendy Askew said "the Morrison government is committed to providing people living with disability the supports they require, when they require it and in the manner in which they require it" (The Sunday Examiner, September 29). Sounds sweet, but it's all icing and no cake. After receiving a third terminal diagnosis, on top of the many other disabilities I suffer from, about six months ago my nurse applied for help for me through NDIS.
I ask Ms Askew, I am homeless and living with a number of disabilities, where is the support you boast? I required support before winter, but the NDIS have left me lying on the ground all winter. Is this invisible support being delivered in the manner in which I require it? Remember Ms Askew, it was my nurse who asked for help, not me. See you on the streets next winter.
A R Trounson, Needles.
Interest rates
LOWERING these further will have little impact on economic activity.
They are now so historically low that further reductions have little impact for mortgages.
However, more people in Australia are savers not borrowers and they have suffered greatly in recent years with very low returns on their savings.
There are other ways to stimulate Australia's economy.
The very low interest costs provide an ideal scenario for capital works. And capital works generate employment and boosts to the economy.
Further reductions in interest rates impact greatly on retirees who rely on their savings to generate an income.
Reduce this and more must seek government help with pension payments.
So the message is clear: stop seeing lower interest rates as a panacea for our economies ills.
Rather see government expenditure on a wide range of capital works as the best means to boost our economic outlook.
Remember always that money spent by one group (particularly governments) is benefits to a whole range of others, many at this time, sorely in need.
Dick James, Launceston.