Dear Letters Editor,

The Walker Corporation believes $600 000 is a reasonable price tag for the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area at Lauderdale.

In the RPDC hearings currently underway, Walker Corp. has acknowledged the area is a shorebird habitat of International Significance.

Every major concern raised by Save Ralphs Bay Inc. has been confirmed as a genuine issue, and our scientific experts have received backup from scientists of the EPA and other branches of the Tasmanian Government.  On a number of issues, Walker Corp. experts have conceded the inadequacy of their studies.

Walker Corp. is routinely trying to turn each major concern into just another “condition” for the development. Hence, if they are unable to deny the importance of an objection, the Walker team simply says, “We’ll write another condition to deal with that.”
Some people have suggested the community should buy the land back from the Walker Corp.  However, it is important to remember that Walker Corp. hasn’t bought it and doesn’t have the “necessary approvals” to do so, as required under the 2004 in-principle agreement with the Tasmanian Government.

The RPDC process is the first step in determining whether Walker Corp. ever obtains the “necessary approvals” and hence become eligible to buy the Crown Land.

Many of us hope the RPDC will say, “NO”, bringing an end to this matter at last.

Sincerely,

Jane MacDonald