Nick McKim, Press Release
Greens Member for Franklin Nick McKim MHA said that section 26 (7) of the Act allows the making of an order contrary to the findings of the RPDC, which means that even should the RPDC rule against Walker Corporation, the project can still go ahead under any conditions the Premier wishes.
MEDIA RELEASE
Nick McKim MHA
Thursday, 13 JULY 2006
PROJECT OF STATE SIGNIFICANCE PROCESS WILL ALLOW LENNON TO IGNORE RPDC DECISION ON RAPLHS BAY
The Tasmanian Greens have revealed that a little known section of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 allows the Premier or relevant Minister to ignore the decision of the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) on Walker Corporation’s Ralphs Bay proposal.
Greens Member for Franklin Nick McKim MHA said that section 26 (7) of the Act allows the making of an order contrary to the findings of the RPDC, which means that even should the RPDC rule against Walker Corporation, the project can still go ahead under any conditions the Premier wishes.
“If Ralphs Bay becomes a Project of State Significance (POSS), Paul Lennon will be able to ride roughshod over the RPDC if it suits him, which I suspect it will,” Mr McKim said.
“Even if Paul Lennon now tries to claim that he will abide by the decision of the RPDC, it will be a case of ‘once bitten twice shy’ for the people of Franklin, who have already been duped by the Premier once on Ralphs Bay.”
“We have seen the depths to which the Labor Party is prepared to go, even to the extent of shelving temporarily the controversial project to save a seat in Franklin, and clearly from Paul Lennon’s point of view the project is going ahead whatever it takes.”
Mr McKim said that the Greens will not support Ralphs Bay canal estate development becoming a Project of State Significance, saying that the project should never have got to this stage due to a range of environmental and social issues, including the sale of part of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.
