Now I earn a very healthy income, much of it derived from the mainland hence bringing new money into Tasmania. I don't have a passport and I drive a 10-year-old second hand car. The bulk of my earnings are spent locally.

In the last 10 years I've built one house and renovated another house. That's over a million dollars supporting the jobs of local tradies and suppliers, not to mention my tax contribution to local councils and the state government. I take short holidays in Tasmania and (before COVID) I eat out a lot - more money spent locally supporting local jobs.

Our beautiful low-rise built environs has real value. If we ruin it with disorganised high-rise development then the next person like me may not bring their economic activity into our city.

Keep fighting the good fight Jim Collier!

Once again anti-development activist Jim Collier is preparing an appeal against the approved Global Premium Hotels development in Launceston. When will this man and his band of naysayers put up their own money and fund 'appropriate' (in their eyes) developments?

At this time in history Tasmania, and Launceston in particular, need to generate employment and stimulate our economy and one way to do this is to move quickly on new investments.

Jim needs to focus on his own council area and leave the management and development of the City of Launceston to people who pay the rates.

We all want a successful and vibrant Launceston especially after COVID-19 but not at any price.

Our city has retained, thankfully, an old-world charm but the proposed Fragrance Hotel is out of all proportion to the cityscape in both size and design.

THE premier's 200 per cent renewable energy target shows global leadership in a time when the energy and climate wars rage on at a federal level and in many international jurisdictions.

Our premier is to be congratulated not just for the 200 per cent by 2040 target but for a draft plan on how to get there.

But deep thinking and strategic planning is required if Tasmanians are to maximise the benefits of this great vision.

Fast forward to 2040, who will own our energy generation assets?

Does the draft plan enable Tasmanian participation and if so at what level?

Will the community be enabled to participate?

What is the role of local councils?

Every kilowatt generated by local ownership provides another kilowatt for Hydro to sell to the mainland.

But more than that, the value of every kilowatt generated locally multiplies that value by six-fold in the local community.

Power is always cheapest when it is utilised where it's generated.

Distributed energy is experiencing a global boom which gathers momentum every year.

The question is: "Will all Tasmanians be enabled to participate?"

In a COVID-19 environment of economic and social uncertainty, the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council has decided to close the Bicheno, Swansea and Triabunna visitor centres in the foreseeable future, which is a very cruel blow to the employees of the respective visitor centres.

Pre-COVID-19, the municipal borrowings were of considerable concern due to seemingly questionable decisions of a historic nature, juxtaposed with allegations of staff discontent, the council have now punished the very real victims in a very cruel and callous manner, with the only riposte being "that people now book online", echoes of heartless and hollow arrogance.

THE Morrison government's decision to allow early withdrawals from superannuation funds is irresponsible in the extreme. This will force funds to sell on a falling market to raise cash.

That in turn will put in jeopardy returns for those retirees who currently rely on income streams from superannuation funds.

The fund balances of most retirees have already taken a massive hit and forced sales will compound the losses. And if that is not already enough it will also mean for those who withdraw funds that they will be forced later to rely on a government pension.

Only an economically illiterate government would make such a decision, or one ideologically intent on damaging industry super funds.

I SPOKE with tourist venue operators while buying takeaway drinks at the weekend. They are happy for our borders to stay closed and that Tasmanians take day trips around our island then holiday within Tasmania. It's common sense to wait and see if there are second outbreaks of COVID-19 in other states.