SAVE RALPHS BAY
Update…
THREE ROUNDABOUTS FOR LAUDERDALE AND RIGHT TURNS RESTRICTED?
RALPHS BAY CANAL ESTATE HEARINGS CONTINUE
July 5 2009
Download pdf here: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia05Jul09.pdf
In new road and traffic plans hastily submitted, without any prior notice, last week, the Walker Corporation now proposes 3 new roundabouts along the proposed canal estate strip, causing further inconvenience for residents of the South Arm Peninsula. Any future road widening, required as a result of increased traffic, would be constructed at the Tasmanian taxpayer’s expense.
In addition, Walker Corp. now proposes that right turns out of Ringwood Road, Lauderdale, should be disallowed. Residents and large numbers of visitors to events at the Tasmanian Equestrian Centre may have to turn left and make a U-turn around the southern roundabout on South Arm Road before heading back towards Hobart. Another alternative would be a slow parade of large numbers of vehicles towing horse floats, detouring around North Terrace and back, when attempting to drive from the Equestrian Centre to destinations north of Lauderdale.
The drive along the edge of Ralphs Bay would be none too pretty over the years ahead, as Walker Corporation has already announced the need for a 3m high, solid perimeter noise barrier around the development site.
Other matters dealt with in the RPDC Hearings this week include the impacts of Walker Corporation’s proposed canal estate on shorebirds, the role of the sandflats in denitrification and the need for more Spotted Handfish survey work.
Representatives of the Tasmanian Government supported Save Ralphs Bay Inc.’s claims that it will be difficult to find offset areas for the shorebirds affected by the bulldozing of their sandflat feeding habitat.
Walker Corporation’s expert witness had previously admitted the Lauderdale site is an area of International Importance for the Pied Oystercatcher and the development would probably result in a drop in the population of this shorebird.
Tasmanian Government representatives last week called for more assessment of the role the sandflats may play in maintaining water quality by providing the ‘ecosystem service’ of denitrification. Denitrification removes excess nitrogen-containing nutrients from the water, thus helping to prevent algal blooms.
On the Spotted Handfish, a Walker Corporation witness admitted under cross-examination that more survey work on the location of Spotted Handfish should be carried out before the development is allowed to proceed.
South Arm Peninsula resident Roger Toombs appeared before the Hearing on Friday, and expressed his concerns about the windiness of the location, and potential impacts on the Lauderdale Primary School. Mr. Toombs stated the Lauderdale school is in the direct path of the wind, and there may be issues with dust blown in from the development site.
The Walker Corporation’s legal team is slowing the proceedings by ever more frequent objections and legalistic arguments. Although the hearings are being held in the Federal Court building, the RPDC has a stated preference for an, ‘exploratory’, ‘constructive’ approach, with ‘adversarial behaviour minimised’. Members of the Panel are starting to come to the rescue of representors, encouraging them to continue and thanking them for their contributions.
The Hearings have now passed the half-way mark, with plenty more interesting topics yet to be discussed. The Hearings are open to the public.
— Save Ralphs Bay Inc. : www.SaveRalphsBay.org —
