The formal assessment of the Walker Corporation’s canal estate proposal has now begun.

The Draft Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS) for the proposed development has been delivered to the Tasmanian Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC).

Printed copies of the draft IIS can be viewed at Clarence City Council, a number of locations in Hobart, the State Library in Devonport and at the DEWHA library in the ACT.

The IIS is now open for public comment.
Click http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/poss/lauderdale_quay/whats_new to read the “Invitation to comment” details on the RPDC website.

You can read the IIS at the Walker Corporation’s website, http://www.ralphsbay.net.au and you can also order a free Executive Summary and CD-Rom of the full document from the Walker Corporation via their website, or by mail or telephone. All these details are on the RPDC website at http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/poss/lauderdale_quay/whats_new.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

4.30 pm on 6 April. There is no hurry - take your time. As our experts read through and analyse the IIS, we will inform you of their criticisms and concerns.

WHO CAN MAKE A SUBMISSION?

Anyone who has an opinion on the Walker Corporation’s plan to bulldoze the sandflats of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area, gouge out deep channels for boat traffic, construct artificial islands from the dredge spoil, subdivide the islands and sell off the building blocks.

DO I NEED TO BE AN EXPERT?

No! You only need to have an opinion. Naturally, it is useful to explain why you feel the way you do, to the best of your ability.

Of course, if you can back up your submission with details or expert evidence, that is all to the good - but EVERY submission counts, even if it is very short and simple. A submission can be as short as you like, and can be hand written or word processed.

The RPDC has provided a helpful factsheet and suggested layout for submissions but they are keen to point out that this is only a guide.
Link to factsheet here: http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/poss/lauderdale_quay/whats_new/fact_sheet

WHERE DO I SEND MY SUBMISSION?

By 6 April, you can mail, hand deliver, fax or email your submission to the RPDC. Contact details are on the RPDC website at http://www.rpdc.tas.gov.au/poss/lauderdale_quay/whats_new.

CAN I READ THE WHOLE IIS IN THE TIME AVAILABLE?

Yes, if you are very keen! You’d need to read about 200 pages a day for the first 5 weeks, which would leave you two weeks to make your submission.

DO I NEED TO READ THE WHOLE IIS?

Not at all. The Executive Summary is short and reader-friendly. If you have a special area of interest, or specialist expertise, you would also read the relevant section/s.

CAN WE BE CONFIDENT THAT RALPHS BAY WILL BE SAVED?

Yes! This would be Tasmania’s first ever canal estate development, but the damaging effects of these developments are well documented, and two Australian states have already banned canal estates, as has the Tasmanian municipality of Kingborough.

The Guidelines for the assessment of the IIS are rigorous and comprehensive. The Tasmanian RPDC will be no pushover.

THE CANAL ESTATE BANS IN NSW AND VICTORIA

The state of NSW banned canal estates in 1997, “in order to ensure that the environment is not adversely affected by the creation of new developments of this kind.”

The state of Victoria banned canal estates in December 2008, as part of its excellent Victorian Coastal Strategy.

Quote from the Victorian Coastal Strategy:

“It is also policy to prohibit the development of new residential canal estates to ensure the protection of coastal and estuarine environments. Canal estates can have major adverse impacts on the host estuary, causing loss of habitat, polluting estuarine waters by urban runoff and boating activities and disturbing coastal acid sulfate soils.

Future canal housing estates will be banned and development in low-lying coastal areas avoided as Victorians are warned to expect a sea-level rise of at least 80 centimetres by 2100.”

For further information, click http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/BG_CanalEstateBansFeb09.pdf to read our Background Briefing document on the canal estate bans, and more excerpts from the Victorian Coastal Strategy

HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?

* Contact us via the website http://www.saveralphsbay.org if you can offer assistance in any way

* Join Save Ralphs Bay Inc.

* Make a donation to help us fund our legal expenses and expert witnesses

* Purchase SRB merchandise via the website or at Salamanca market

* Forward this email to your network of concerned friends, and ask them to do the same

* Encourage more friends to join the mailing list at http://www.saveralphsbay.org to receive emails like this one

* Keep writing Letters to the Editor, Mercury Online comments, calling talkback radio, writing to Government MP’s

THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!

Save Ralphs Bay Inc