The sewage sell

Cassy O’Connor Press Release

Sewage pipeline no trade-off for healthy river, animal habitat and treasured lifestyle
The proponents of Tasmania’s first canal housing estate in Ralphs Bay seem prepared to cynically exploit poor sewage infrastructure in Lauderdale, and the Clarence Council’s apparent willingness to shirk its responsibility to fully fund the necessary upgrade, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. said today.

SRB Inc communications’ coordinator, Cassy O’Connor, said residents should not be misled by the developer’s statement that it would fund the sewage pipeline from Rokeby to Lauderdale.

“Walker Corporation proposes to pay for the pipeline only to its intended canal estate
development, NOT to the residents of Lauderdale itself.

“A poop pipe from Rokeby to an ugly, eighties-style canal estate in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area is no trade-off for the health of the River Derwent; a national and internationally significant bird habitat; the existence of the critically endangered Spotted handfish; and a peaceful, coastal lifestyle enjoyed by peninsula residents.

“We hope the Clarence Council is not pre-empting the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) assessment by implying a sizeable chunk of the infrastructure upgrade funding may be contingent on the development proceeding.

“The assessment process has not yet formally begun, and could take up to two years. Council has known it needs to address the sewage issue in Lauderdale since long before Walker Corporation arrived on the scene. What will Council say to residents about fixing the problem if the RPDC knocks back the development on the basis of scientific and engineering truths?

“Clarence City Council should also be aware some coastal councils interstate, such as the Gold Coast and Redland Shire Councils in Queensland, are paying heavily for maintenance and repair of existing canal estate developments. Ultimately, of course, it is ratepayers who foot the bill.

“SRB Inc is perplexed by media reports suggesting Walker Corporation believes its pipeline funding statement will be viewed favourably by the RPDC. The Commission’s job is to examine the suitability or otherwise of a canal estate in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area, with its heavy metal contaminated sediments. The RPDC will do this in the full knowledge that these developments have been banned in New South Wales (State Environmental Planning Policy No. 50) because of the environmental, economic and social harm caused in coastal areas.

“A sewage pipeline ‘sweetener’, so to speak … should have nought to do with the RPDC’s deliberations,” Ms O’Connor said.