They are considerably higher than the existing buildings in and around the vicinity for the proposal. Is this what you want for Launceston?

Launceston is your city. It does not belong to a handful of developers and their supporters in council. Is it the case that the maximum height limit at the Launceston council meeting on May 30 was 24 metres, but changed to 39.5 metres the next meeting on June 13 to see the proposed hotel look more agreeable?

Those opposed to the development want to protect Launceston from the destruction of its heritage. The proponents have indicated they will be working to have height and mass restrictions changed to enable the hotel to proceed. Surely the limitations are not the things that need changing.

Maybe the proponents should be looking at changing the proposal so that it fits in with the current requirements?

Bill Carney, Riverside.

THE editorial (The Examiner, November 16) requires clarification and correction.

The article was essentially commenting on two separate agribusinesses: VDL Farms at Circular Head and Bellamy's baby formula company.

In the first instance, the VDL Land Company has been continuously owned and operated by various foreign interests since 1825, never in Australian hands. In 2016 it was purchased by another foreign investor Moon Lake Investments.

The claim that VDL is the oldest dairy company in Australia is far from accurate. It's conversion to dairy from sheep and cattle only began in the mid-1990s.

With regard to Bellamy's, it is well known, that it has not sourced milk or any other product from Tasmania, nor employed any manufacturing local workers.

It has a small office presence in Launceston, and that's essentially its contribution to the Tasmanian economy.

The CEO and his staff are based in Melbourne.

Greg Hall, Deloraine.

JOHN Collins (The Examiner, November 20) is incorrect with his letter to the editor.

If the speed is greater than 80km/h it is not legal to stay in the right-hand lane unless overtaking. After overtaking, you must move back to the left-hand lane.

Scott Hayes, Legana.

THE message that the drug testing lobby gives is very irresponsible. Drug testing never makes drug-taking safe. Drug taking will negatively affect mental and physical health, regardless of whether the drugs have passed a test or not.

Horst Schroeder, Devonport.

WHEN will these moron hardcore vegans wake up? They are now demanding Bunning's hardware cancel a nationwide charity drive for the fire victims using a sausage sizzle on November 22 at all of their stores Australia wide. Here's hoping this gives them a boost in sales. Help the fire relief fund, go along to Bunning's and buy a snag.

David Parker, West Launceston.

I wish the Meander Valley Council, as representatives of the residents of the Meander Valley local government area, had consulted with the residents to determine if there was an interest in supporting a prison in the area, prior to facilitating contact between private landowners and the state government. The council now hides behind "it is a state government initiative" or "currently there is no development application" to lessen their culpability in this whole fiasco.

Phil Giles, Westbury.

DEAR Tasmanian landowners: the majority of Westbury people are saying no to a prison in their village, and the site doesn't seem to fit most of the siting principles very well anyway. Strangely, the government doesn't seem to have any valid alternative site to consider. So, if you have a spare block of land in the North that fits some of the siting principles, is outside of tourism towns, and that you'd like to make a few million dollars on, let the government know. You could be the knight in shining armour for all.

R Wood, Hobart.

CAROL Firth and Sallyanna Hillier (The Sunday Examiner, November 17) I don't know how far you have ventured from your villages, both of which have convict history incidentally. I remind you that Risdon Prison is located adjacent to Risdon Vale, Lindisfarne and Geilston Bay, suburbs of greater Hobart. It is less than one kilometre from Risdon Vale Primary School and about three kilometres from Lindisfarne North Primary School.

The thousands of people living near the prison seem to go about their lives without fuss. It is good enough for them to live near a prison but not you. And not only do you want prisoners and their families far from Westbury, but you want to banish them to the wilderness.

Would you be happy if Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour was re-opened as a prison? The property where it is proposed that the prison is built is part of the same property Valley Central Industrial Precinct occupies.

I am sure that that precinct has brought benefits to Westbury in particular and Meander Valley Council generally. And it is a blot on the landscape, visible for kilometres day and night. Has this been at the detriment of your historic village and tourist attractions? I don't think so. Plant a hedge along Birralee Road and you won't know the prison is there in time.

Ross Warren, Devonport.