This is well off the truth, as other indications contained in official data reveal there will in fact be 13 pylons.

If one stands near the First Basin shelter sheds, and look towards the southern aspect, you will currently see a natural vista.

This vista will be marred by pylons, cables, and frequent gondolas.

Move your eyes past the suspension bridge, and visualise a similar scene.

Add to this, the knowledge that the hillside to the right is currently home to approximately 100 endangered species.

Do the proponents of the skyway care that these will be put under threat to their habitat? I don't think so.

If you still have a copy of The Examiner, July 8, have a look at the skyway image on page 12. Surely anyone who appreciates the current view would not want to swap it for the image shown. This is why there is such opposition to the proposal.

Bill Carney, Riverside.

THE International White Ribbon campaign to prevent, the violence and diverse social injustices experienced by women has not disappeared.

The White Ribbon logo remains the best recognised, world-wide symbol of the fight to right these inequities.

White Ribbon has successfully raised awareness and stimulated this debate but the issues have not been solved.

Therefore we must continue to raise awareness and educate our community.

In Australia, older women constitute the fastest growing homeless statistic; 55 women have been killed in violent incidents this year; women's shelters can't cope with the number of women seeking refuge; women are still harassed at work and in educational institutions; the media and advertising industries publicise outmoded ideas of female body image and stereotypical female roles.

Participation in government, business, industry and the law remains white male dominated.

Our language, and humour are studded with disparaging, patronising, sexist and disrespectful references to women as less worthy, less important, less able.

Young women are the cohort most likely to experience cyber bullying.

And appallingly, modern slavery and trafficking has emerged in our communities and women constitute the majority of that statistic. Internationally young girls are being forced into early marriage; many endure female circumcision; are denied education, independence and citizenship; are trafficked for sex and slavery and are kidnapped and raped in war.

Let's increase our efforts to continue the work and goals of the International White Ribbon organisation.

The issues are more important, bigger and broader than an office in Sydney.

Carol Fuller, Launceston.

WHY does the government need to save money? All the money is paid by taxpayers and therefore should be for their benefit, especially the 10,000 on the hospital waiting list.

L D Shaw, Launceston.

SO THE experts are abroad again, each with her/her own solution to the problem of Tamar silt.

Silt is a natural phenomenon happening worldwide. We can probably do little about that, but we can seek to control where the silt is deposited. It largely occurs at the upper point where saltwater occurs in a river system. If we can control salt intrusion, we can control silt deposits.

Saltwater causes flotation to occur, that is small particles in suspension collect together to so increase mass that they sink to the bottom over a period of time to form mudflats. So how do we control salt intrusion? The weir planned and researched by Robin Frith provides a solution.

Thus a barrage across the lower Tamar to stop tidal inflows and hold the Tamar, upwards of the barrage, to half to two thirds full, tide levels would transform our river into a giant freshwater lake, still with wetlands.

Tertiary treated sewerage would only go downstream carried by the rivers natural flow and passing the barrage at low-tide times. All for a mere half billion.

Dick James, Launceston.

WE HAVE not progressed since the first study to the silting problem we have in Tamar Estuary in Launceston. After a number of studies and recommendations, nothing has been achieved.

One basic solution overlooked so far is to allocate some of the grant funds to the Hydro to assist in installing turbines at the base of the Trevallyn Dam diverting the water down the gorge.

The Trevallyn power station only contributes a small percentage of the total electricity produced in Tasmania and with the addition of wind and solar this percentage must be reducing. The Hydro would still be producing power with the new turbines and could retain the Trevallyn station operational when there was flood water available plus in case of an emergency power shortage.

The production loss of power to the Hydro would be marginal.

Since the Trevallyn power station was commissioned in 1955 there have been large developments in turbine power generation. Wouldn't this be a win for tourists visiting Launceston and a solution to the silting problems we have?

Richard Jones, East Launceston.