Tasmania’s peak environment body has warmly welcomed the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s recommendation for rejection of the proposed canal-estate development at the Ralph’s Bay Conservation Area, and is urging the State government to formally reject the proposal, properly clarify and enshrine protection for Ralph’s Bay, and consider a ban on canal estate developments for Tasmania.
“This is an excellent recommendation, and a testimony to the dedication of the local community’s determination to protect their coastal environment, particular Save Ralph’s Bay Inc. However, we never should have gone down the path of considering selling off a dedicated conservation reserve in the first place,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania, “Ralph’s Bay is an incredible piece of our coastal environment and deserves full recognition and protection. It is important that the government now moves to endorse the planning commission’s recommendation, and to enshrine proper protection for Ralph’s Bay so that the community can move on,” he continued.
“What we also urge that the state government consider, is developing and approving a strong statewide coastal protection policy, including a ban on canal estate developments in Tasmania, so that we aren’t faced with similar proposals in other parts of Tasmania’s unique coastal environment in the future,” he said.
Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, a peak body that represents 26 Tasmanian environment groups, with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians.
Dr Phill Pullinger, Environment Tasmania
