IN A a small victory of sorts for Ralphs Bay, the Lennon Cabinet has been split over the Walker Corporation’s request for Project of State Significance Status (POSS). The decision to defer debate at the Cabinet table is a signal the political heat is only intensifying.
Save Ralphs Bay Inc is in no doubt the Bay was on Cabinet’s agenda for Monday 15 August 2005. Yet, on Monday morning, Ministers had not received the minutes on the Walker request.
Cabinet is divided over the Ralphs Bay issue and this gives us cause for hope. If there is a critical mass of enlightened and electorally attuned Ministers arguing against the POSS when Cabinet next meets, it may be enough to overwhelm even Paul Lennon’s enthusiastic embrace of the Walker plan. And, it may save Lara Giddings or Paula Wriedt, and their Denison Labor colleagues, from copping a wallop at the next State Election.
There must be those among Cabinet members who wish the Walker plan had never reared its unpretty head over Ralphs Bay. It has caused more political angst than the Lennon Government wants or needs. It has been unnecessarily prolonged, and the Walker Corporation hasn’t helped its push with a reluctance to actively engage the people it would effectively uproot. And the Lang Walker, Graham Richardson secret, whirlwind visit to the Premier last April proved an enduring PR disaster.
Meanwhile, motivated and determined people from both sides of the Derwent, have mobilised a public campaign which is proving nigh on impossible for Walker proponents to counter.
The Lennon Cabinet now has a fresh opportunity to demonstrate that it listens to concerned Tasmanians, by delivering on a promise to do so.
Judy Jackson has given the Tasmanian Government an escape clause — telling the developer in March last year that public opinion would be weighed in any decision on whether allow the proposal to proceed to the formal planning system.
It is the State Labor Government, not billionaire Lang Walker, who has the most to lose if a match is set to an already short fuse in the lead up to an election.
The State Liberals have this week reaffirmed their genuine discomfort with the Walker proposal, as has their federal colleague, Senator Paul Calvert. Last week, Harry Quick kindly printed and distributed 6500 SRB Inc brochures to Eastern Shore residents, calling them to representative action.
Also in the past week, as public pressure builds before an expected decision, the letters and telephone calls have surged to a new peak in Ministerial offices. Over the last eighteen months, the same messages delivered in many forms, have climbed into the thousands.
To those members of Cabinet who are striving to do the right thing by Ralphs Bay and its people, we say thank you and stay strong. If Paul tries to charm you into submission, look him in the eye and tell him he just doesn’t get it if he thinks this one is a winner with the punters.
Time, and the machinations of State Labor politics, will tell.
Cassy O’Connor
http://www.saveralphsbay.org/
