RENAMING THE POOL
THE suggestion by deputy mayor Danny Gibson (The Examiner, July 30) to rename the 50-metre pool after Ariarne Titmus is one of the worst knee-jerk reactions you could think of.
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Cr Gibson needs to take a deep breath and really think about what he is suggesting.
Is the city going to rename other buildings or landmarks every time an athlete performs well?
There is another young Launceston swimmer currently training at the same club as Ariarne Titmus who is also showing great potential. If he performs better than Ariarne will we then rename the pool in his honour?
The key to the city may be appropriate, but even this seems to be too early in her career.
Please let everyone take a step back and applaud what she has achieved so far.
Peter Wilson, Newstead.
DIVISIVE POLITICS
RESOURCES Minister Guy Barnett, in his divisive article (The Examiner, July 29), reflects badly on all politicians.
His untruths and exaggerations simply demean the conversation and pits Tasmanians against Tasmanians.
He states: "The Bob Brown Foundation's relentless opposition to MMG's Rosbery tailing dam underlines their opposition to Tasmanian jobs."
How many times does it need to be said the BBF, their supporters and volunteers alike want to see the mine continue and jobs maintained?
Premier Peter Gutwein and Mr Barnett need to tell the state-owned Chinese mining company, MMG, to pursue other known options for their toxic tailing dam.
Further, I would suggest I'm a conservative activist in my support for the BBF in this action and Mr Barnett is the extremist in his aggressive attitude and support for this nonsensical proposal.
His position undermines our Tasmanian brand and workers in the tourism industry.
Gordon Cuff, Lilydale.
PRISON SITE BIODIVERSITY
MAY I correct Steve Cripps (The Examiner, July 30), to point out that there are not two but three groups opposed to the current prison site in the Westbury/Birralee community.
There are at least 13 Birralee households (separate from CROWPS) who oppose the destruction of an important wildlife corridor and who hold grave concerns about the traffic impacts of such a major development on the already unsafe and inadequate Birralee main road.
Mr Cripps has also failed to pay attention to the readily available information that the current site contains dry sclerophyll forest that supports a number of threatened and vulnerable species of flora and fauna.
To compare this forest type to a rainforest and to refer to it as a "scrappy bit of bush" suggests Mr Cripps has no understanding of, or appreciation for, biodiversity.
Torey Taylor, Birralee.
ALTERNATIVES SOUGHT
THE Hobart City Council not only listened to its ratepayers in rejecting the cable car, but it also acknowledged the first people's claim of heritage.
And, of course, all Tasmanians who, if ever they have seen the mountain and organ pipes in its various attire as they approach the capital city, must admire it in its semi-natural condition.
Why oh why has the proponent sought only to approach the front and add insult by building, like sore toes, on the front all for profit?
Yes, a cable system out of view to Hobart from the top of the mountain to Snowy Range has merit, as does access up Tower Hill road (Longley/Neika) environmentally, built to the back of the mountain or similar from the Collins Vale area.
And better still - include the old track Huon to New Norfolk as part of a reliable road system.
Merits it offers include alternative routes for day trippers, and it ensures safe extractions and existing refreshment places remain viable.
Mike Grey, West Tamar.
DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME
It's so very disappointing that the "let's ban everything" minority have managed to sink the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Cable Car proposal.
As a Tasmanian of 70-plus years and as a past (15-year) employee in central Hobart, I find it disgraceful that I'm expected to drive on a narrow, winding road to gain the summit of a local mountain.
I'm advised that there are only two cities in the world with a similar situation where the city can be viewed from a local mountain - Hobart and Cape Town.
Visits to similar facilities in Britain, Switzerland, Germany, France and New Zealand and locally to Cairns, Katoomba and Arthurs Seat has indicated minimal problems.
My wife and I recently did the drive to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
A motorhome from NSW in front of us received considerable damage to its left side by being forced into the rock face & scrub by inexperienced drivers who hogging the centreline.
Many of us have paid taxes in Tasmania for 100-plus years, yet we're now being denied the opportunity to experience 21st Century facilities on the summit.
So please, let all of us - and not just the select few - enjoy kunanyi/Mt Wellington.