Greens:
WALKER CORPORATION TREATING TASMANIANS LIKE MUSHROOMS
Again!
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Environment spokesperson
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused Walker Corporation of abusing process after it was revealed that the developer has sought yet another extension for its response to the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s (TPC) damning Draft Report which found the proposed canal estate in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area was an unsustainable and inappropriate development.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the developer’s successful request for an extension until 26 March has an awful déjà vu about it.
“Walker Corporation has form when it comes to denying Tasmanians full information during elections. They withdrew their canal estate proposal just prior to the 2006 state poll, only to resubmit it after Labor was re-elected in majority,” said Ms O’Connor.
“In effect, Walker Corporation has demanded an extra four months to respond – a privilege denied the community fighting to defend the Bay.”
“Not content with having put a community through six years of stress, now the developer is trying to treat us like mushrooms once again.
“Tasmanians who care about their coastline should be able to access the developer’s response to the TPC’s rejection of the ‘Lauderdale Quay’ proposal, and they should know which political party tacitly supports Walker Corporation’s subterfuge, before March 20.”
“In seeking to avoid scrutiny pre-poll, and to deny Tasmanians the opportunity to read what it has said about the TPC’s damning draft recommendations until after the poll, Walker Corporation is once again demonstrating its unwillingness to listen to what the community has said, as well as its disrespect for coastal values in Tasmania.”
“The message from the Tasmanian community has been loud and clear. Walker Corporation should stop treating us like fools, and accept that their appalling proposal to build a private canal estate on public property in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area has been rejected because it is inherently un-Tasmanian,” said Ms O’Connor.
