History
‘Brighton bypass fiasco lessons must be learned’
The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that the Labor government commit to not commencing any major infrastructure development until all necessary permits in are in place, saying that the last nine months of distress experienced by the Aboriginal community over the Brighton Bypass could have been avoided had this protocol been followed.
Greens Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that an apology should be issued to the Aboriginal community over the ham-fisted and pre-emptive manner in which the Brighton Bypass was allowed to proceed before all necessary permits were gained.
“The Brighton Bypass fiasco must serve as a lesson to government. Importantly there must now be an undertaking from Labor that no works on infrastructure proposals will commence until all necessary permits have been signed, sealed and delivered,” Mr Morris said.
“An apology to the Aboriginal community for the pre-emptive manner that the Brighton Bypass was commenced, and the destruction and distress that has caused, must also be provided.”
“Had sound and basic process been followed, then the last nine months of uncertainty, grief and discord within the community over the Brighton Bypass could have been avoided.”
“The practice must now be that no permit means no work occurs,” Mr Morris said.
Meanwhile …Artefacts found at Kingston bypass
The head of Tasmania’s Infrastructure Department says the Aboriginal community has been consulted about the discovery of artefacts along the route of the Kingston bypass.
Norm Mcilfatrick has told a budget estimates hearing a new examination of the route of the $42 million project has found significant cultural artefacts like those at the Brighton bypass north of Hobart.
Mr Mcilfatrick says some of the Aboriginal artefacts were found at the Algona Road roundabout which could have been an Aboriginal quarry.
“It just shows that with all of these jobs when you start work on them there’s always the chance we’ll find something more and we’re always vigilant and have kept the Aboriginal community fully informed,” he said.