SRB News

NO Franklin state election candidate has expressed any support for canal estates in Tasmania, in responses to a pre-election questionnaire sent out by Save Ralphs Bay Inc.

Replying to the first question, “Do you support the construction of a canal housing estate inside Ralphs Bay?”, Ross Butler MHA stated categorically, “No.  The very concept is abhorrent.”

Download as pdf file: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia16Mar10A.pdf

One hundred and twenty submissions were received on the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s Draft Integrated Assessment Report (DIAR) for the proposed Walker Corp. canal estate in Ralphs Bay. Download a pdf version.

In response to the DIAR, on Monday 9th November, the Clarence City Council passed a motion that among other points, the council “reaffirms its previous submissions to the Commission."and .. “supports the recommendation of the Independent Panel ...” Read more from the Council’s minutes of meeting: http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/m09_11_09.pdf - ‘Lauderdale Quay’ (11.7.5 p.46).

In the adjournment debate on Tuesday October 13th, Cassy O’Connor MHA alerted members of Parliament to the results of the recent council candidates’ survey, and the long struggle by the community to save Ralphs Bay.

“[6.15 p.m.]

Ms O’CONNOR (Denison) - I rise to speak tonight about a place which is very dear to my heart, as members will know, but also very important to the people of the South Arm Peninsula, very important to the shore birds - resident and migratory - and very important to the survival of the critically endangered spotted handfish. I am speaking about the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.”

Save Ralphs Bay Inc (SRB) is holding Public Meetings in Lauderdale and South Arm this week, to inform the community about the recent RPDC Hearings, and what happens next in the RPDC assessment process for the Walker Corporation’s proposal to build a canal estate development on the footprint of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

The 7th Australasian Shorebird Conference will be held in Hobart from 4-6 September. The theme of the Conference is “Resident and Migratory Shorebirds – Managing Their Future”
Read more in the Australasian Wader Studies Group Newsletter
Read about the September workshop on the Birds Australia Beach Nesting Bird Project here: Workshop news

* On the Precautionary Principle:

- A standard reference to the Precautionary Principle, which includes the concept of public participation and public views should not be adopted by the RPDC panel assessing the development because, “in our submission, it is the wrong approach to the Precautionary Principle”!  [we wonder why that might be??]

- “There are no environmental risks which invoke the Precautionary Principle in this case.”

Commencing on June 17th, the RPDC will hold public hearings on Walker Corporation’s Draft Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS).
Hearings will be held at Federal Court No.1 in Davey Street at the following times: 9:00am – 11:00am, 11:30am – 1:00pm, 2:00pm – 3:00pm and 3:30pm – 4:30pm.