The Lennon Government has tabled a bill in Parliament to remove the sandflats from the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area in a move that puts corporate interests before coastal conservation and community.

The Ralphs Bay Conservation Area (Clarification) Bill 2006 is Lennon Labor’s answer to Walker Corporation’s desire to have a smooth run through the planning process.  If passed along with the PoSS Bill, it will ensure the conservation values of Ralphs Bay are not fully assessed by the RPDC.

SRB Inc.  communications’ coordinator, Cassy O’Connor, said it’s a black day for conservation in Tasmania.

“If the government is so sure the sandflats DON’T belong in the Conservation Area, let that be tested beyond the raucous reach of partisan politics, and allow a court of law to come to an evidence-based conclusion.

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust and Save Ralphs Bay Inc. have called on the State Government to fund a public interest test case to decide the disputed boundary of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

In a letter sent yesterday to the Minister responsible for the Conservation Area, David Llewellyn, TCT Director, Craig Woodfield said the boundary issue is one,
“ ... most appropriately dealt with by a court of law, to ensure an impartial conclusion is reached beyond the partisan political resolution that is currently in train.  It is a misuse of the Parliamentary system to apply a quick fix to an important boundary question, where the significant conservation values of Ralphs Bay are in danger of being under represented in the political debate.

Mr Woodfield writes, “We submit it is in the best interests of proper process that the State Government fund a test case in the Supreme Court, enabling all interested parties to be represented.  It is our understanding such a matter of boundary law, with evidence from surveying and land law professionals, would be dealt with by the Court in a relatively short period of time and at modest cost.

“A Judicial determination of the boundary question would allow all arguments to be put forward, resulting in an evidence-based solution rather than a divisive, politically charged, and rhetorically misrepresented outcome.

“I respectfully request that you consult with ministerial colleagues and urge them to support this more legitimate approach to the issue at hand.  Given the pending resumption of Parliament, I hope you will respect our strong desire to have this request dealt with as a matter of some urgency.”

More than 230 people attended the Save Ralphs Bay Inc. Public Information Evening at Lauderdale Hall on a windy, Wednesday night to hear speakers from federal, state and local politics condemn the Walker Project of State Significance (PoSS) proposal.

With SRB Inc. Chair, and former Lauderdale school Principal, Bill Edmunds, as M.C., the meeting heard from Harry Quick MP (ALP, Franklin), Senator Paul Calvert (Liberal, Tas), State Franklin Greens’ MP, Nick McKim, Clarence Alderman Kay McFarlane and Cassy O’Connor from SRB Inc.

While the Lennon Government promotes a toxic canal estate against community wishes, the West Australian Government talks about consultation and conciliation, and it puts conservation before profit or exclusive access for the few.  Here in Tasmania we share coastal assets equal in beauty though not as vast as the coastline that faces west towards the Indian Ocean, and we should be just as concerned with its protection.

Save Ralphs Bay Inc. today expressed its profound disappointment in the decision of the Tasmanian Liberals to back the Walker plan for Ralphs Bay as a Project of State Significance.

SRB Inc. Communications coordinator, Cassy O’Connor, said it is very hard for the community which is fighting so hard to save Ralphs Bay not to feel betrayed by the Liberals’ new stance on the Walker proposal.

“It seems pretty clear that some fairly pragmatic politics is at the core of the State Liberals’ decision on the Walker proposal. 

“Late last year, the Liberals stood by the community and said the party did not support the Walker canal estate plan.  That was before the March 18 State Election.  Now, with another election at least three years away, the Liberals have adopted a different stance, backing the proposal as a Project of State Significance (PoSS).

“Here was an opportunity for the Liberals to truly set themselves apart from Lennon Labor on the Walker plan.  It’s an opportunity lost.

LENNON GOVERNMENT BACKS WALKER AGAINST COMMUNITY

DOWNLOAD THE NEWSLETTER HERE AS A 776KB PDF FILE

[ Note: you can download this “arguments against the PoSS” document HERE (180KB PDF) ]

Dear members and supporters of Save Ralphs Bay Inc,

We are seeking your assistance to stop the Walker Corporation’s proposed canal estate for Ralphs Bay in its tracks, because this development has the potential to cause profound and enduring environmental, economic and social problems for Tasmania.

This is how you can help save Ralphs Bay.

Former Tasmanian Lands Minister and current federal Lyons MHR, Dick Adams, has spoken out for the first time over the boundary of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area. What he said on ABC Statewide radio on Wednesday 9 August confirms that when he first moved to create the Ralphs Bay coastal reserve in 1982, the sandflats to low water mark were included within the boundary.  As it prepares to introduce legislation to eliminate the sandflats once and for all from the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area, this is possibly the last thing the Lennon Labor Government wanted to hear from one of its own.