After six months active campaigning, Save Ralphs Bay Incorporated has delivered the results of its own community consultation on the Walker Corporation proposal for an 800 home canal housing estate in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

More than 2500 letters and personal comments, along with a sheaf of petition forms, and our formal submission were presented to Environment and Planning Minister Judy Jackson at Parliament House today.

SRB Inc urges Premier Lennon, Minister Jackson and their parliamentary colleagues to read the comments written by the citizens of Lauderdale and far beyond.  Here is a selection:

“Through our efforts to reach the widest possible audience in Tasmania, interstate and overseas, we feel confident the message that has been delivered to the Lennon Government today paints a true picture of public feeling,” SRB Inc representative and former Lauderdale Primary School Principal, Bill Edmunds, said today.

“This is an important day for SRB Inc and the community we represent.  The Premier, Minister Jackson and their Cabinet colleagues should take a good look at what more than 2000 thoughtful and concerned people have to say about this terrible proposal.  The Lennon Government needs to put a stop to this so we can get on with our lives,” Mr Edmunds said.

SRB Inc.’s Cassy O’Connor believes the community’s response demonstrates the depth of feeling Tasmanians have for their coastline and their lifestyle.

“Every signature, letter, note and email should be counted as another reason to reject the Walker ‘vision’ for  the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area.

“The disbelief is also being expressed beyond our unspoiled shores.  We have support from every Australian State and Territory, as well as from Germany, Denmark, England, South Korea, USA, Sweden, Japan and more.  While there are no votes for the Lennon Government in Seoul, it should heed the words of visitors who recognize Tasmania has something rare and vanishing all over the world,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Lang Walker’s entire personal fortune could not buy what the people of Tasmania already own at Ralphs Bay.”

The correspondence handed to government reveals that the dollar value of any proposed development fails to convince if  it comes at the cost of a protected area, unspoiled coastline, an  already  dwindling wetland ecosystem, internationally significant  bird habitat, the  critically endangered Spotted Handfish colonies  in Ralphs Bay, community  recreational pursuits, and a treasured  vista.  The true list is much longer.

Our submission also details the numerous unlawful aspects of the Walker plan.   We believe Local, State and Commonwealth legal instruments, as well as international conventions and agreements, would be comprehensively flouted if the Walker plan were to proceed even to the formal planning stage. 

“Tasmanians expect their government to ensure the law is upheld in the best interests of this island and its people.  For Ralphs  Bay, this means sticking by the State Coastal Policy, the State of the Derwent Report and Tasmania’s international threatened species obligations to reject the sale of a conservation area for a toxic canal housing estate in the bay,” Ms O’Connor said.

The community’s response was sparked by the Walker Corporation presenting  its concept to the public without  any formal structures in place to ensure the  process was rigorous  and thorough.  It demonstrably was not, and SRB Inc is urging the government to examine the results of  the  developer’s consultation in this context. 

With limited time and resources, Save Ralphs Bay Inc has reached thousands of Tasmanians, and  people beyond, all of whom share an important  place in the response we have now  delivered to the Tasmanian Government.

 
Media contacts:   Cassy O’Connor  0400 628 939     or               Jane MacDonald 6239 9589

Download the 27.09.04 Media Release (PDF)