Dear Editor,
Ken Skeels (Letters, Aug. 3rd) asks where environmentalists get their information that the majority of people do not want the Ralphs Bay development to proceed.
Recent information could be provided by the Walker Corporation, but they chose not to disclose the results of their survey, in their Draft Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS).
However, there are several other sources of evidence.
For instance, 519 of the 547 submissions on the DIIS opposed the development.
During roadside protests at Lauderdale since 2004, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. members have conducted accurate counts of vehicle occupants’ responses to our presence.  We have consistently found over 60% expressions of support and well under 1% opposition to our activities.
In 2004, several politicians conducted surveys, each of which revealed strong opposition to the development and very little support.  Senator Paul Calvert’s survey was the largest:  the response rate was described as “huge” (Mercury, 16.9.04).  Opposition to the development ran at 73%.

Also in 2004, government members received thousands of letters about the proposal.  Save Ralphs Bay Inc. obtained the first 9 summary sheets relating to this correspondence, following a Freedom of Information request: of the first 227 items tallied, 224 communications were opposed to the development; 2 supported it and 1 was neutral. This was 99% opposition, in unsolicited letters from concerned members of the public.

The six (75%) Pembroke candidates who did not support the canal estate proposal continue the trend observed consistently since 2004.