The lessons of New Orleans

Geoff Smedley

It is quite sad to simply believe that spending money on dirt dykes can solve the impending catastrophe, so many unanswered questions that it has become frightening to think about what lies ahead for Invermay and Inveresk with the blind push for levee banks.

BACK from their vital journey to New Orleans and other stopovers on the way, the heavies of power over the river on the grand tour that is to be the vital key in finding a solution to Launceston’s threatening delemma, how to keep the city’s feet dry in the next expected big serve of nature, the time when the rivers are tested against almost 80 years of abuse.

A statement was made that a full report on the contrOversial tour would be forthcomming at the end of August, but it appears the digit is stuck in the dyke once again putting the big release on the backburner along with everything else connected to tackling the serious problem caused by the ignorance that has been shown on this matter from the highest level in the state.

It is quite sad to simply believe that spending money on dirt dykes can solve the impending catastrophe, so many unanswered questions that it has become frightening to think about what lies ahead for Invermay and Inveresk with the blind push for levee banks.

It’s logical to understand that fixing the problem is a far better option than fumblimg about trying to protect against the problem by means that are completely unrealistic and have real possibility of making the situation many times worse by entrapment of water within the area, the main cause of the disaster in New Orleans and the only similarity that can be compared in that whole situation.

There is little doubt that global warming is now a reality with scientific reports from all quarters confirming the issue. Sea levels are expected to rise substantually in the very near future making our low lying areas uninhabitable with a rise of just one metre, but consider some of the more extreem predictions of up to seven metres within 50 –75 years, this must be worth some consideration as whatever the case may be, it’s not a great time factor and probably will mean a remarking of the telegraph poles within the effected zones.

So much misguided use of past funding is still allowed to be carried on and some of the outrageous statements put forward are simply being mouthed by the polititions in an effort to make believe they are in touch with the situation while all the time running in circles protecting their backsides until pension day and the house in Queensland.

Geoff Smedley earlier on TT (which was actually later!): Read here