Cassy O’Connor
The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Bartlett Government of pushing through a key amendment to the long-neglected State Coastal Policy 1996, in order to allow development on actively mobile coastal landforms, of which there is only one on the agenda at present.
STATE GOVERNMENT ACTING ON STATE COASTAL POLICY FOR WALKER CORPORATION
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Shadow Coastal Policy Spokesperson
Monday, 16 February 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Bartlett Government of pushing through a key amendment to the long-neglected State Coastal Policy 1996, in order to allow development on actively mobile coastal landforms, of which there is only one on the agenda at present.
Greens Shadow Coastal Policy spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the amendment will make it easier for Walker Corporation to argue their proposal to destroy the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area complies with the State Coastal Policy 1996.
“This amendment put forward by the Bartlett Government will directly benefit Walker Corporation as it goes through the RPDC assessment process for its proposal to destroy the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area to construct a canal housing estate at Lauderdale,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Here is prima facie evidence of political interference in the assessment process to benefit a corporate agenda. When will this government ever learn?”
“After sitting on the State Coastal Policy review for three years, and doing precisely nothing to improve the current State Coastal Policy for an even longer period, now suddenly the Tasmanian Labor Government feels an urgent need to change the Policy to allow development on mobile coastal landforms.”
“It’s a completely shonky amendment, put forward by the Bartlett Government without any appreciation of the need to keep at arms’ length from the RPDC process. This amendment will have implications for the assessment, and wider implications for coastal development in Tasmania in future.”
“This proposed amendment is a major change to the Policy, despite the RPDC Executive Commissioner, Greg Alomes’ assurances. It should be put through a proper evaluation and consultation process.”
“The Bartlett Government is no different from the Lennon Government. Same rubbish, different bin. Same determination to put conservation and community well behind corporate mates in the big decisions affecting Tasmania’s environment,” Ms O’Connor said.
Attached:
1. Acting Premier Giddings’ Letter to the RPDC re amending the State Coastal Policy 1996, 12 January 2009;
2. Letter from the RPDC Executive Commissioner Greg Alomes, to the Acting Premier, 20 January 2009.
Download:
Feb16_Coastal_Policy_Minister_Direction_C_OConnor_ATTACH1.pdf
Feb16_Commissions_response_C_OConnor_ATTACH2.pdf
And,
BARTLETT GOVERNMENT CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS ON RIVER DERWENT
Cassy O’Connor MP
Tasmanian Greens Shadow Coastal Policy Spokesperson
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today said the Bartlett Government must acknowledge that it cannot be a responsible partner in the Derwent Estuary Program if it continues both tacit and tangible support for Walker Corporation’s proposal to tear up the Ralphs Bay sandflats.
Greens Shadow Coastal Policy spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the latest report card on the health of the River Derwent reveals that tidal flats, such as those at Ralphs Bay, play an essential role in maintaining the River’s health.
“Thanks to the efforts of the partners in the Derwent Estuary Program and greater environmental awareness along both sides of the Derwent, our beautiful river is in a slow process of recovery after decades of industrial and urban pollution,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The absolute last thing it needs is a 500 block canal housing estate gouged into the Ralphs Bay tidal flats.”
“David Bartlett can’t have it both ways. He can’t expect us to believe he is genuinely concerned for the long-term health of the River, if at the same time he is making supportive public statements about Walker Corporation’s proposal to harm the river.”
“Given the opacity and indecent haste involved in his government’s push to change the State Coastal Policy to facilitate development on sensitive coastal environments, the Premier might reflect on the definition of the term ‘hypocrisy’,” Ms O’Connor said.
