But it Was Good to See No Member on Any Side of the House Speak in Favour of Canal Developments

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today thanked Labor and Liberal Members for acknowledging the negative impact of canal estate developments on coastal values, but expressed their frustration that neither of the major parties would commit to support the Coastal Protection (Ban Canal Estate Development) Bill 2009.

Greens Environment and Coastal Protection spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said while Labor and Liberal MPs effectively accepted the evidence of NSW and Victoria which have banned canal estates because of their high environmental, social and economic costs, they could not bring themselves to support the Bill.

“I believe the major parties should recognise that if they want to protect Tasmania’s coastline and coastal communities, they should vote in support of a ban on canal estates,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Other jurisdictions with bitter experience of these developments have banned them, we have an opportunity to ensure canal estates are never allowed to blight our unspoiled coastline.”

“That said, it’s not such a bad outcome for the ultimate goal of banning canal estates, to have my Bill referred to the Joint House Committee on Environment, Resources and Development for examination. I am confident the Committee investigation will come to the only possible conclusion – that canal estates should be banned from Tasmania.”

“A ban would not only ensure Tasmania’s lovely coastline does not end up looking like the Gold Coast, it would ensure no other coastal community is put through the same stress as the Ralphs Bay community has over the past nearly six years.”

“And, a ban would send a message to developers about what is and isn’t appropriate in Tasmania. It would provide certainty to developers, so they don’t embark on long, expensive development campaigns like Walker Corporation has, only to be humiliated and out of pocket at the end of the process.”

Ms O’Connor also pointed out that the Bartlett Government has yet to release its long-delayed, reviewed State Coastal Policy.

“Tasmania clearly needs a strong, effective State Coastal Policy which has real teeth and which puts coastal conservation, community and climate change considerations before the development at any cost agenda of Labor in government in Tasmania, or any other government in the future.”

“The Federal Government report ‘Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coasts’ also makes it clear that sea level rise will damage or destroy coastal infrastructure around Australia. To allow, or encourage through inaction, vulnerable coastal infrastructure development at this time would be both irresponsible and ridiculous,” said Ms O’Connor.

Reference: “Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coastline,” Department of Climate Change, http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/publications/coastline/climate-change-risks-to-australias-coasts.aspx, released 14 November 2009.
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment and Coastal Protection Spokesperson