Kons and Ralphs Bay

Save Ralphs Bay MR

The Minister’s directive – undertaken without public explanation or consultation – is best viewed in the light of Walker Corporation’s determination to build a canal housing estate and marina inside the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

TO further its inappropriate development agenda, the Lennon Government has directed the Resource Planning and Development Commission NOT to consider Ralphs Bay as part of its current Inquiry into Marine Protected Areas in the Bruny Bioregion.

Save Ralphs Bay Inc. and Birds Tasmania found out on Friday this week that, on 8 August, Planning Minister Steve Kons directed the RPDC to remove the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area from its recommendations on the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Bruny Bioregion – which stretches from Southport in the South-West around the Tasman Peninsula to Hellfire Bluff. This despite Ralphs Bay at Lauderdale being recognised as one of seven areas in and around the South Arm Peninsula which meets the Identification Criteria in the RPDC Bruny Bioregion Interim Report.

The Minister’s directive – undertaken without public explanation or consultation – is best viewed in the light of Walker Corporation’s determination to build a canal housing estate and marina inside the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

Birds Tasmania Chair, Dr Eric Woehler, said the best science and supporting data presented to the independent umpire – the RPDC – by scientists, independent researchers and community organisations has been deliberately devalued and dismissed by the Tasmanian Government.

“The values present in the Lauderdale foreshore are recognised and listed on the Register of the National Estate, Ralphs Bay is also intimately linked with the PittWater/Orielton Lagoon Ramsar wetlands through the use by migratory and resident shorebirds for feeding and breeding, and it is the habitat of the Critically Endangered Spotted Handfish.

“Through its MPA Inquiry, the RPDC had identified Lauderdale as a candidate site for Marine Protected Area. Now the proper assessment and necessary protection of those values has been further compromised as a result of the Walker Corporation Project of State Signficance (PoSS) process.”

SRB Inc. representative, Jane MacDonald said the group had written to Mr Kons in early July raising its concerns over what impact the PoSS assessment might have on the MPA Inquiry. The Minister did not respond.

“This move on the Minister’s part is not entirely unexpected, and it does seem to follow a pattern of political behaviour. There is some good news, however. Five key sites around the South Arm Peninsula and Ralphs Bay have been recommended as MPAs. They are Opossum Bay, Betsey Island/lower South Arm, Ralphs Bay/South Arm, Pipeclay Lagoon and Clarence.

“Ralphs Bay at Lauderdale is part of that integrated ecosystem. Any inappropriate development in the Bay would have to be considered an unacceptable threat to those marine environments nearby which are recommended for protection by the RPDC,” Ms MacDonald said.

Both Save Ralphs Bay Inc. and Birds Tasmania are among a number of organisations and individuals who made submissions to the RPDC Background and Interim Reports highlighting the ecosystem and habitat values present in Ralphs Bay.

The RPDC released its Draft Recommendations Report for public comment yesterday. It can be found at
http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/plu/inquiries/bruny_bioregion_inquiry

The current assessment process the Walker Corporation Project of State Signficance is set out at

http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/poss/lauderdale_quay

For more information on the community’s campaign go to
http://www.saveralphsbay.org/