I have lived in Tasmania for most of my life but for the last four years have lived in Fremantle, Western Australia.  Canal developments are quite big over here and quite controversial.  As an environmental consultant I have first-hand experience with the environmental degradation that follows as a consequence of canal developments and the visual impact they create. 

On the environmental side, canals cause big changes in the groundwater and surface-water hydrology which detrimentally affects aquatic ecosystems, and can cause erosion in other areas.  Many of the canals in Mandurah (south of Fremantle) are also in areas at high risk of acid-sulphate soils, released by dredging, that contaminates the surrounding area with acid. 

On the aesthetic side they are simply awful.  The houses that accompany them are generally huge limestone monstrosities that have been chosen out of a catalogue rather than designed by architects.  The housing ‘estate’ style is very insular and people from the outside world are discouraged from using the foreshore by clever planning and reduced or confusing access.  Golf courses are generally the order of the day, usually built on sand dunes and the amount of water and fertiliser needed to maintain the golf courses in these locations is incredible.  They are also very exclusive and insular, which is not compatible with the community of Ralphs Bay. 

Canal developments are inappropriate from an environmental and community point of view.  They are also uneccessary both in Western Australia and Tasmania as there are huge amounts of coastline that has already been developed and is still reasonably priced, particularly in Tasmania.  They will stand as a legacy of inappropriate planning for many years to come. 

Abe
Environmental Scientist