Gorge Hotel DA
WITH the predictable retort from advocate groups, (for example tourism bodies and the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, the respective lobby groups which advocate for the collective self-interest of their organisation's members) against the independent Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal's decision to disallow the development application proposed by the JAC Group, namely the Gorge Hotel, Launceston in its present form based on the Launceston Interim Planning Scheme 2015.
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Within the planning process, a pro development Specific Area Plan (SAP) is a future option, where a developer has lost an appeal process before RMPAT.
The SAP involves a specific area within a zoning area to be changed, with possible and consequent changes to permitted, discretionary and prohibited uses within the rezoned SAP.
Approval for a rezoning of the specific area must be approved by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, with possible amended permit conditions, and if approved, placed before RMPAT for the final planning decision.
The JAC Group has an impressive past record of development in Tasmania, and presumably, will pursue all legal and legitimate planning means at the company's disposal. Hopefully, as a responsible corporate citizen, the JAC Group will be able to arbitrate a collective, consensual outcome with neighbours and concerned citizens of Launceston alike, without sideline barracking from lobby groups on both sides.
Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.
Tasmania
OUR lifestyle is almost totally dependent on the supply of petroleum from the most politically volatile region of the world.
We rely also on overseas refineries.
A disruption of the supply chain will bring everything to a halt very quickly. Against a global standard of 90 days reserves, Australia has 21. What about Tasmania, or is that another state secret? We must ration all liquid fuels, then to build up our reserves ASAP.
Priority must be given to public transport, making it free to get maximum loadings.
The rail system should be upgraded as a project of state significance, instead of roads.
Rail can be electrified, and passenger services re-introduced. Trams and trolley-buses should be considered for inner city areas, with car-free streets. People have been spoiled. It is insane to expect supply to keep increasing while demand increases globally. Surely if you are driving towards a cliff, the first thing to do is take your foot off the accelerator.
Peter Needham, Bothwell.
Barnaby Joyce
BARNABY Joyce is a disgrace and a bad example of the Liberal party.
Not a care in regards to the fire poor victims, instead an opening for him to put down the Greens and disrespect the sad lot souls. I can't understand how he is still in the public arena. This man does not think before he speaks, the words he used in regards to the victims "They must have voted Green" are callous and so disrespectful to the victims, the Greens and Australia on the whole. Given NSW is Liberal state he should be trying to be a role model not a vindictive one, so what will it be a slap on the wrist, a half hearted apology or a "you shouldn't have said that"? Shame on him.
Susan Goebel, Invermay.
Prison location
Should the Proposed Westbury Prison be sited at Longreach George Town?
I suggest that a far more practical and suitable location for the proposed new Prison exists at Longreach at the former substantially commenced Gunns' pulp mill site. If, as is being suggested, the aluminium smelter at Bell Bay is to be closed a large number of unemployed George Town residents will soon be seeking employment, thus giving an alternative site at Longreach both a practical and a logical reason for its promotion by thinking politicians.
It is a little known fact that the owners of the smelter have the right of veto over any new proposed purchaser of the land that was the Gunns site at Longreach.
This extraordinary exclusion was inserted by Rio Tinto to prevent another enterprise from setting up in competition to use the cheap electricity that allows the smelter to function. This clause in the original contract of sale to Gunns gives the holders of this veto the power to request that the government assist their redundant workers by establishing the building of the $270 million new prisons at Longreach, not Westbury.
The future employment of all those who work at the smelter is therefore in the hands of their employer, and how their employer chooses to use this veto.
A party currently negotiating to purchase the Gunns Longreach land from the liquidators, KordaMentha, wishes to generate electricity by solar and wind power to feed into the adjoining grid without powerlines.
This would be an admirable solution made more admirable by the hiving off some 100 acres for prison from their purchase of 2500 acres.
The current owners of the smelter, therefore, hold all the cards and they are in a position to act in the best interests of their possibly soon-to-be-redundant workers and confront the Hodgman Liberal government with an alternative proposal that is in the interests of all Tasmanians.
KordaMentha is accepting offers over $5 million and they have issued an option to purchase.
This contract is about to be but has not yet been executed.
Hence speed is of the essence.
John Hawkins, Chudleigh.
