SAVE RALPHS BAY CALLS FOR COASTAL POLICY COMMITMENTS

Download a pdf version at www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia04Mar10.pdf

Save Ralphs Bay Inc. congratulates Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett for once again flagging a canal estate ban for Tasmania.

Mr. Bartlett was quoted in today’s Mercury as saying, “And if it shows the project should not go ahead, we will work with our local communities to consider a ban on all canal estates in Tasmania.”

Save Ralphs Bay seeks further clarity from the Premier: in the unlikely event the Planning Commission gives the proposed Ralphs Bay canal estate the go-ahead, would open-slather canal estate developments be part of a Labor government’s plan for Tasmania’s precious coasts?

The state government commenced a review of the State Coastal Policy in 2004 and Tasmanians are still waiting for the revised policy to be released.

Save Ralphs Bay calls on all three major political parties to clarify their position on the State Coastal Policy, and on the topics of a Tasmanian canal estate ban and their party’s plans to regulate development in low-lying coastal areas.

In The Age on February 26th, it was reported that a second development in Victoria has been rejected in light of the increasing risk of coastal flooding.

The Victorian minister said the Port Fairy proposal was inconsistent with planning and coastal policies, which include avoiding development on primary sand dunes and in low-lying areas.

”The (Vic) government is working collaboratively at local, state and national levels to prepare coastal areas for sea-level rise,” he said.

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