Now, over the years since this stinking mess started to flow down stream, there have been some 33 committees formed and group naval gazing conducted for absolutely no solution or any realistic suggestion of a fix.

With the latest trend for highly popular locations such as mountains, parks, beaches, streets being given local Indigenous titles.

I suggest all references to the Tamar River be removed and replaced with exactly what it represents, and that is a repulsive, disgusting, stinking foul human waste outlet.

So let's call it for what it is, the Tamar Sewer.

When the cleanup is complete and the river is returned to the sparkling waterway it once was, we can expect a bridge connecting Riverside and Newnham, completion date, sometime in the next 200 years.

Michael Trimper, Launceston.

OVER many years I have travelled on Ragged Jack Road near Ben Lomond and Bessells Road near Meander. These roads have been used by bush walkers to access many great walks in Tasmania.

Over the last few months I have noticed Forico Pty Limited have installed boom gates across both roads which now deny the public access.

These are two roads I know about no doubt there are more that have been closed.

My question to the State Growth Minister responsible for roads Michael Ferguson is why are these roads now closed.

I can only presume that the government/taxpayers originally paid for the construction of the roads so why is a private company now allowed to deny access to the public?

PETER McGlone from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust nit picks over energy verse electricity and says the state is a proportionately bigger user of road transport modes using hydrocarbon fuels (The Examiner, December 9).

Assuming it is true, there would be a reason for that which has nothing to do with the current state government.

It is that Tasmania is the most decentralised state with the population much more scattered into small cities, towns and villages where public transport is very hard to make attractive and viable and so people use cars.

As for Tasmanians using hydrocarbon fuels in record and increasing amounts, well that would be due to a rising population being largely housed at urban fringes.

That said the 92 per cent renewables in the electricity still means the state is way out in front on a total emissions per capita basis.

The state is also very well placed for the take up of electric cars when affordable, mass produced versions become available. Hybrids are an attractive option which we have taken up.

Maybe if the TCT took aim at planning regulations and matters that facilitate efficient and viable public transport rather than just dishing out backhanders to the state Liberal government they might actually help improve the situation as against engage in petty self promotion.

M Seward, Port Fairy.