Canal estate ban joyously welcomed

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the tabling of the Canal Estate Ban Bill 2011 in Parliament and again congratulated community groups on their determined campaigning to save the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area from the scourge of Walker Corporation’s toxic canal estate plan.

Greens Environment and Coastal Protection spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that the Bill was not only the final assurance that the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area and its threatened species would remain protected, it would also ensure Tasmania’s wild coastline is safe from the scourge of canal housing estates, like those seen on the Gold Coast.

“Today marks another step in the right direction for Tasmania’s coastline and for coastal communities all over the state, and when this long-awaited Bill becomes legislation it will protect and sustain our precious coastline from unnecessary and inappropriate development,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The Greens are hopeful that this Bill will receive tripartite support when debated, as members from all arties act to recognize the value and vulnerability of our beautiful coastline.”

“This Bill is a tribute to the unyielding dedication of a fantastic collective of conservationists, most particularly the Save Ralphs Bay group, Birds Tasmania, the Environmental Defenders Office, the Tasmanian Greens and Ocean Planet.”

“The Tasmanian Greens have fought a long campaign for a ban on canal estate developments in Tasmania. This Bill finally arriving in the Parliament is yet another tribute to co-operative government.”
“I also want to extend my personal thanks to the former Premier, David Bartlett, who initiated this key coastal protection Bill, following the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s comprehensive rejection of Walker Corporation’s unpopular plan,” Ms O’Connor said.

Best ever Birthday Gift for Save Ralphs Bay

Download pdf at: www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia17Mar11.pdf

March 17th is the SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY of the Save Ralphs Bay group’s campaign against canal housing estates in Tasmania – and a very special gift has just been delivered by the Tasmanian Government. The Canal Estates (Prohibition) Bill promised by Premier David Bartlett last year was tabled in the Parliament yesterday.

The Canal Estates (Prohibition) Bill 2011 amends the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA) to prohibit canal estate developments in Tasmania. The Bill requires the Tasmanian Planning Commission to amend Tasmanian planning schemes accordingly, and it stipulates that a canal estate project is not eligible to be declared a Project of Regional Significance.

The Bill also amends the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 to ensure that a canal estate development proposal can never again be given Project of
State Significance status in Tasmania.

The Save Ralphs Bay group has campaigned long and hard to achieve this canal estate ban. The ban follows the Planning Commission’s comprehensive integrated assessment and final rejection of Walker Corporation’s proposal to construct a canal housing estate on the footprint of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area at Lauderdale.

“Save Ralphs Bay extends warm thanks to Cassy O’Connor MHA who campaigned as one of the ‘Ralphies’ for years before taking her seat in the Tasmanian Parliament, where she continues to lobby for better protection of Tasmania’s coastal areas”, said SRB spokeswoman Jane MacDonald.

“We also thank former Premier, David Bartlett, Environment Minister Brian Wightman and Planning Minister Bryan Green. Save Ralphs Bay now calls on all three political parties to pass this Bill with tripartisan support”.