I would ask the author to consider whether he or she thinks it would also be appropriate to force dogs to wear restrictive muzzles at all times, as dogs barking is a greater nuisance than an occasional backyard cat poo.

Barking is a normal part of dogs' behaviour, as is roaming and exploring a normal part of cats' behaviour, and there is evidence to suggest that not letting them roam contributes to obesity, boredom and aggression.

As such, we should look to other ways to mitigate problem behaviours instead of restrictive bans.

REGARDING the number of crashes on straight stretches of the Bass Highway (The Examiner, July 14) it seems clear that drivers get confused about whether it's a one or two lane highway. In New Zealand there are arrows painted on the road at regular intervals to indicate the direction of travel and remind drivers which lane to use.

THE Tarkine, it sounds mythical like a story by Tolkien. MMG sounds exactly like the corporate miner it is. These are the extremes of an ongoing debate in our country. Tarkine good, miner bad, gullible greenies, mighty miners. Environment first. Put jobs first.

Had the West Coast and the Green movement been protesting in the Tarkine 150 years ago there is a strong chance there would be no Queenstown, Rosebery, Zeehan or Tullah. Towns built on the discovery and exploitation of Tasmania's mineral riches. There has to be middle ground. We now know and can do so much more in regard to mineral extraction and minimising environmental damage.

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It's time we called our politicians to account. It's too easy to dismiss environmental concerns based on jobs. It is too easy to pursue environmental purity whilst living in a world that is utterly dependent on mineral extraction. The test? Convince us that the tailings dam in dispute is really in the best place with the best environmental safeguards. Tasmanian politicians of all persuasions - this is your job.

RECENTLY while travelling into Launceston from Hadspen I witnessed a P-plater impatiently pass a 4WD and then cut straight back in front of the car travelling towards Kings Meadows.

How this didn't cause an accident I don't know? The ads say to unmute yourself when you see dangerous behaviour.

This is what I am doing. Today, have a conversation with your young people about the dangers of driving during winter and keeping several car spaces between them and the car they are following. It might take five to 10 minutes longer to get where they are going but they may live longer.

A SPECIAL thank you to the very capable volunteers at the recent Festival Of Voices.

Without such collective community spirit, this biannual event would simply not exist.

Thank you for the wonderful memories.

REGARDING the article from Jenny Davis and Ian Kidd (The Examiner, July 12), "Science Support Natural Solution for Tamar".

The one positive comment in this article was about a sustainable flow-based solution.

Hydro should be forced to assist in installing turbines at the base of the Trevallyn dam diverting the water down the Gorge.

The development in turbine technology has advanced amazingly in the last few years and has increased the amount of power produced. 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 reduced.

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. The Hydro have done their surveys and will put up every excuse not to do this, part of the problem relates to them when in 1955 the Trevallyn power Station was commenced.

Wouldn't this be a win for tourists visiting Launceston and a solution to the silting problems we have?

WHILE the scientist are right in one respect as to start with the North Esk is a great idea, but it would be far better to create a sump with a permanent pump to say the flats near Glebe Gardens so as it doesn't do what the estuary did in the late 80s and fill back up within 12-24 months.

The other thing they state as a reason to bypass the Trevallyn Power Station and send increased flow down the Cataract Gorge is the supposed scouring caused by the outflow.

This affects the Tailrace itself and maybe 200-300 metres toward Launceston Church Grammar School corner where the silt has dropped out of suspension to such an extent that the river is almost blocked at low tide.

This is with the full power station flow and a small percentage.

They rightly state that European occupation has caused the problem but the Tamar Estuary was a silt trap for thousands of years before hence invermay, a great part of Newstead and the Riverside.

You can't repair the problem without removing the cause.

Farms, towns, businesses all suck potential flow and unless Tasmania becomes monsoonal that's not going to improve.