Ken Hosking Media Release: low impact promenade proposals naive and impractical
A report in the Mercury of 15 May 2007 quotes a proposal from Will Hodgman, leader of the Opposition, for a “sensitive low-impact walkway” development on the Battery Point foreshore.
Dr Ken Hosking, part owner of a foreshore property that has been at the centre of a compulsory acquisition wrangle, stated that such a proposal is naÔve and impractical.
“The reasons are simple and clear to anyone who cares to think about the issue”, he said.
“Virtually all of the publicly owned land on the foreshore is adjacent to privately owned land with title to the high water mark. For an all-weather, all-tide walkway to be built, there are only two options – an elevated structure or acquisition of land above the high water mark. Neither option is even remotely “low-impact” – on any measure, environment, heritage, residential amenity or cost.”
“It is disingenuous, perhaps even worse, for politicians such as Will Hodgman and Jeff Briscoe, who has also been promoting the so-called low impact concept, to make such proposals when they are, or should be, well aware of the physical limitations of the foreshore.”
“We have become only too familiar with Jeff Briscoe’s flights of fancy, but Will Hodgman should know better than to present a poorly researched and ultimately undeliverable proposal.”
“The State Government has for some time held the position that walkways, promenades and similar built structures will not be tolerated on the foreshore. Minister Llewellyn issued a press release on May 14 clearly re-stating that position.”
Dr Hosking said that Mr Briscoe’s proposal raises serious questions as to why Council has exposed the ratepayers of Hobart to substantial compensation payments and legal costs in pursuing acquisition, given that it was well aware of the Government’s position, when it could have achieved low key public access to the natural foreshore at a far lower cost by negotiating an access lease or similar arrangement with the owners.
