IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR THE RALPHS BAY COMMUNITY

Planning Commission Rejects Walker Plan

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today wholeheartedly thanked the Tasmanian Planning Commission for delivering a victory to the Ralphs Bay community after a five and a half year campaign involving thousands of volunteer hours, sweat and plenty of tears, as well as tens of thousands of dollars in public donations willingly given to save Ralphs Bay from Sydney-based Walker Corporation.

Greens Environment and Coastal Policy spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said today’s Draft Report from the Commission is a hard won day of celebration.

“We won’t be popping the champagne corks until this process is absolutely over, but I can’t see Walker Corporation having any comeback to the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s damning rejection of its proposal,” Ms O’Connor said.

“This has been a long, hard fight that’s taken its toll on plenty of individuals and their families.”

“Every member of Save Ralphs Bay Inc. in particular, and Birds Tasmania, and the strong coastal alliance that grew out of this adversity – the good people at Environment Tasmania, Tasmanian Marine Naturalists, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Wilderness Society and of course, the Greens, will breathe huge sighs of relief at this news.”

“Today we can celebrate a victory for community and coastal conservation, a victory over a greed-driven corporate agenda and the cynicism of the two major parties who both tacitly and overtly supported this destructive proposal, ignoring the overwhelming mood of the people most affected.”

“It’s clear the weight of evidence left the Tasmanian Planning Commission with no choice but to recommend against the Walker canal estate proposal on the basis of its unsustainability and unacceptable construction impacts, ugly urban design framework and unacceptable visual impact, negative impact on urban amenity, potential lethal impact on shorebirds and the critically endangered Spotted Handfish, and the long term environmental risks associated with a project of this kind.”

“This should also send out the right message to prospective developers in Tasmania. Come up with good, sustainable, genuinely 21st Century developments, don’t treat the locals with contempt, and you are better placed to succeed.”

“Canal estates have no place in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Planning Commission has made that clear.”

“Now we need a strong State Coastal Policy that will prevent a repeat of this trauma for all concerned in the future.”

“I also look forward to seeing an extended Ralphs Bay Conservation Area that extends from the southern flank of the Bay near Sandford, north to Lauderdale as described in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area (Clarification) Act 2006,” Ms O’Connor said.
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment and Coastal Protection Spokesperson