FIX THE MUD!
I mentioned yesterday how a major issue is dominating this year's local government elections. Here it is: FIX THE MUD!
Now it has nothing at all to do with mud-slinging politicians for a change. No, this mud is the build up of silt in the Tamar River estuary. The next photo I post will show this in dramatic fashion, but these photographs at low tide illustrate a major problem for our Seaport.
Until the 1960s Launceston had a busy river port where cargo (especially wool) was transported up the Tamar and into Bass Strait. But eventually it became totally uneconomical to have to keep dredging the river.
Until the Trevallyn Dam was built in the early 1950s (to increase hydro power capabilities) water from the South Esk River would flood through the magnificent ancient Cataract Gorge and naturally flush the silt back out to sea. The Tamar estuary is Australia's longest at 70 kilometres long.
Many plans have been offered over the years and the one that would almost certainly right the problem would be to dismantle the dam. But since that won't happen, alternative proposals need to be found. This is where the Tamar Action Group candidates standing for election under the FIX THE MUD! banner have made a stand. tamaractiongroup.org.au/
The plan is a progressive one that concerns itself with the whole health of the Tamar Estuary.
* All photographs taken by me with the Leica D-Lux 7. Make sure you enlarge to get a closer look.
FIX THE MUD!
I mentioned yesterday how a major issue is dominating this year's local government elections. Here it is: FIX THE MUD!
Now it has nothing at all to do with mud-slinging politicians for a change. No, this mud is the build up of silt in the Tamar River estuary. The next photo I post will show this in dramatic fashion, but these photographs at low tide illustrate a major problem for our Seaport.
Until the 1960s Launceston had a busy river port where cargo (especially wool) was transported up the Tamar and into Bass Strait. But eventually it became totally uneconomical to have to keep dredging the river.
Until the Trevallyn Dam was built in the early 1950s (to increase hydro power capabilities) water from the South Esk River would flood through the magnificent ancient Cataract Gorge and naturally flush the silt back out to sea. The Tamar estuary is Australia's longest at 70 kilometres long.
Many plans have been offered over the years and the one that would almost certainly right the problem would be to dismantle the dam. But since that won't happen, alternative proposals need to be found. This is where the Tamar Action Group candidates standing for election under the FIX THE MUD! banner have made a stand. tamaractiongroup.org.au/
The plan is a progressive one that concerns itself with the whole health of the Tamar Estuary.
* All photographs taken by me with the Leica D-Lux 7. Make sure you enlarge to get a closer look.