Rally against canal estates

Save Ralphs Bay MR, Mar 17

IN A lunchtime Rally Against Canal Estates held today, over 400 Save Ralphs Bay supporters demonstrated their opposition to the Walker Corporation’s proposal to excavate 53% of the internationally significant Ralphs Bay sandflats at Lauderdale.

Cassy O’Connor spoke of the first community meeting in the Lauderdale Hall, exactly five years ago on this day in 2004, and a large birthday cake was cut and shared at the end of the Rally to mark the anniversary.

“This is a place that we must defend, and we are prepared to defend it”, said Ms. O’Connor to loud applause. She encouraged all present to make submissions to the RPDC before the deadline of 4.30pm on April 6th.

Ms. O’Connor reminded the audience of the history of the campaign, including the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area (Clarification) Act 2006, which sought to remove the sandflats from the Conservation Area before the assessment began. Upper House amendments have left the current boundaries of the Conservation Area in a legal limbo until the conclusion of the integrated impact assessment for the Walker Corp. proposal.

Dr. Eric Woehler from Birds Tasmania spoke of the local, national and international significance of the Ralphs Bay sandflats for a variety of species. Over 7% of the Australian population of the Pied Oystercatcher have been counted at Ralphs Bay on a single day, making this the second most important site for the species in Australia. Migratory shorebirds such as the tiny Red Necked Stint fly from as far away as Siberia to rest, feed and gain weight on the Ralphs Bay sandflats during the Tasmanian summer.

“Who are we to deny them their habitat for a stupid development?” asked Dr. Woehler, as loud clapping once more erupted in City Hall. His closing message was quite clear: “We can’t afford to lose Ralphs Bay.”

Dr. Peter Hay spoke inspiringly on sense of place and the right and responsibility of residents to defend their place from attack.

“There is an absolute need to hold a line on the privatization of public land”, said Dr. Hay, in a reference to the state government’s in-principle agreement to sell the Crown Land of the Ralphs Bay sandflats to the Walker Corporation, if it can obtain the necessary approvals for its
proposed development.

“We must insist the coast is retained as a public good”, said Dr. Hay, calling on the Walker Corporation to, “pack up its glossy bag of spin and trickery and take itself elsewhere.”

Dr. Hay’s strongest message was for the government of Tasmania, as he asked, “Do the people of Tasmania want this development? If they do not, it is the duty of government to acknowledge that and act accordingly. The people of Lauderdale have a just cause. When you fight in defence of your place, you fight in defence of yourself. You have the right and responsibility to defend your corporeal body and also your extended self, which is your home.” The Walker Corporation, he said, has, “no concept of the depth of the ties to place that prevail here in Tasmania.”

Click here for a pdf version: www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia17_03_09.pdf

— Save Ralphs Bay Inc. : www.SaveRalphsBay.org —