written by:Bob Hamilton-Bruce, Collection manager for Mollusks with the South Australian Museum

Dear Premier,

I wish to voice my protest, in the strongest possible terms, against the
proposed development at Ralphs Bay.

I am the collection manager for Mollusks with the South Australian Museum
and concede to having a vested interest in this sort of enterprise. However,
my work with marine mollusks has also given me a very strong insight into
the effects of such propositions and they are not always obvious.

Apart from the total disruptions to the current marine environments which
WILL (not may) result in terminating many endemic marine life forms, other
results of this enterprise will be contamination of the bay with human waste
and debris, fouling of the waters with fishing line , hooks, boat fuel,
flotsam and jetsam and the introduction of non-native marine species.
This is to say nothing of the destruction of the coast line proximal to the
development and from roads, parking spaces and all the other paraphernalia
associated with such developments.

Not one such development has ever proved beneficial to the environment and
benefits only the avaricious self centered developer and the few wealthy
people who can avail themselves of this type of facility.
It would stand as yet another desecration of a beautiful natural setting in
an island which is already known as rapidly loosing all its character and
natural charm.

It is unfortunate that persons proposing these ventures give not a damn
about either the environment or Tasmania. Such persons will always be a
vexation to the spirit but we need not enjoin in their greed.

I would give you a quote from Kipling (whom I hope will forgive me for the
insertion of Tas in place of Celon!):

‘Lo soft the gently breezes blow soft o’er Tassie’s Isle,
Whilst every prospect pleases, only man was foul.

Please do not let the development happen. It is a shortsighted and bad idea
benefiting very few and placing you amongst in the history books as being
people in a position of influence who did not try to prevent such disasters.

Bob Hamilton-Bruce

*This letter has been edited for length

Posted by Lang Webmaster on 05/19 at 02:16 PM
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