The best way to stop the boats and drive down tourism? Demolish what they have come to see …

The demolition of yet another century old house in Battery Point is imminent. Not just any old cottage but one intimately connected with Purdon and Featherstone’s slipyard located in Derwent Lane.

A house rescued once before in the 1990’s is again faced with total and absolute annihilation.

Why, to create room for a private ultra-modern residence at the expense of our much loved slip yards and a valued tourist draw card. Good design, wrong location. Ironically Featherstone’s 1930’s house in Mona Street only recently suffered the same fate and for similar reasons.

Tourism is not rocket science: people want to see what is unique and wonderful about the places they are visiting. We go to Europe to wonder at the quaint delights of medieval villages often rebuilt after the terrors of war or adapted through pestilence and plague.

We can enjoy them now only because each community understands their value and they still exist.

The continual stream of gigantic ships visiting our port are saturated with people who spend time wandering around Battery Point, riding on red busses or other three wheeled contraptions while also shopping, buying food and generally supporting our way of life.

The value of Battery Point to our economy is huge, but only if its integrity and character remain intact.

So what’s the best way to stop the boats and drive down our tourism?

Simply demolish what they have come to see.