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.

“Fundamentally, what this means is that both the Tasmanian Labor and Liberal parties are content to consign a concerned community to having to devote enormous time, energy and resources to fighting a billion dollar corporation’s totally inappropriate proposal in the planning system.  This process could take up to two years.  That’s two more years of stress on individuals and families over a proposal which is clearly wrong for Tasmania on environmental, social and economic grounds.

“We are confident that if the Walker plan is passed by both Houses as a Project of State Significance, the Resource Planning and Development Commission will conduct a rigorous assessment.  If all the available evidence on the harm caused by canal estates is brought to light, and if the Derwent heavy metals issue is fully examined, the RPDC will not recommend the government approve the Walker plan.

“Our concern is that the RPDC recommendation is not binding on the Lennon Government.  Given its enthusiastic support for the Walker plan, Lennon Labor is not to be trusted on this issue. 

“The Tasmanian people - who are the rightful owners of the Crown Land Ralphs Bay sandflats - will have no appeal rights once the RPDC recommendation and final decision have been made.

“SRB Inc remains firmly of the view that this is not proper process for such a patently inappropriate and potentially dangerous development proposal.”

------- The Liberal media release follows -----------

Liberal Media Release

WILL HODGMAN, MHA

Tasmanian Liberal Leader

Thursday, 17 August 2006

Ralphs Bay

A meeting of the Tasmanian Liberals in Launceston today has decided not to oppose a State Government move to have the Ralphs Bay project considered by the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) as a Project of State Significance.

Tasmanian Liberal Leader, Will Hodgman, said there had been wide consultation with key stakeholders on the matter and a review of the 480-page Walker Corporation submission on the project.

“The Parliamentary Party and the broader community still have serious concerns about the nature of the project, its possible impact on the natural environment and its social and economic impact,” Mr Hodgman said.

“The RPDC is an appropriate body to examine the project thoroughly and test concerns. It has the capacity to expertly examine complex environmental, social and economic issues relating to the proposal.”

Mr Hodgman said the Tasmanian Liberals support development, but not at any cost. Furthermore, he said the Party has confidence in the State’s planning system.