Brendan Blomeley on ABC TASMANIA Statewide Mornings, Sept 27, 2005:

Tim Cox:  Cassy O’Connor from Save Ralphs Bay sent an email yesterday that I read out, ‘I listened with interest to Alderman Brendan Blomeley say he’d mailed out his contact details so concerned members of the Clarence municipality could reach him to express their views.  Maybe it all depends what view you wish to express?  During the campaign to save Ralphs Bay, I called Brendan’s mobile twice and left polite messages requesting a return call so we could discuss this subject of deep concern to residents.  Well’, she says, ‘I’m still waiting.’

We’ve got Brendan Blomeley on the phone.  Good morning to you.

Brendan Blomeley:  Ah, good morning Tim.

Tim Cox:  Did you get two messages, as suggested, from Cassy O’Connor?

Brendan Blomeley: Tim, Firstly, Tim can I apologise for taking a while to respond to this matter.  As you know, like many loyal listeners, I try and tune in every day but yesterday when Cassy’s email was read I was at a meeting with ratepayers of Lindisfarne talking about footpaths and roads, and the important things in the upcoming election.

But Tim, I did receive two messages from Cassy and I think it is fair to say that there was absolutely no doubt in my mind Tim as to what Cassy O’Connor’s position was and still is, regarding Ralphs Bay and in fact, Tim, to those few residents who held a similar view to Cassy and who contacted me, I made it very clear to them that I was going to wait until the Walker Corporation had released the full and final proposal for Ralphs Bay before I formed a view as to whether or not I would support the proposal.

Tim, as an Alderman of Clarence City Council, in effect, a member of a planning authority, in my view it is absolutely essential that I consider the merits or otherwise of every proposal based on all the evidence and not just listen to the view of a small, and very vocal lobby group.

As I said Tim, Cassy O’Connor did leave two messages for me and in fact, the last message concluded something along the lines that, “I will get to you Brendan, I will get to you!’

Well, Tim, I’m certainly prepared to listen to both sides of an argument and in fact, um, I have a strong track record of consulting widely within the Clarence community on a whole host of issues, but Tim, when there are people such as Cassy O’Connor, who builds a reputation on being anti-development, and who has advocated on the Save Ralphs Bay website to vote against me in the upcoming elections, then Tim, I’ve got better things to do with my time than listen to their drivel.

Tim Cox:  Well, you say that you are interested in hearing the full range of views, as the representative of that group, the lead group lobbying against the development, shouldn’t you at least have sat down with her, and perhaps put your point of view as well?

Brendan Blomeley:  Well, Tim, at that stage, as I say, I was waiting for the full proposal to come from Walker.  I was in no doubt as to what Cassy O’Connor’s position was, and surely it would be better for me to be as well briefed as possible before I sit down with either the proponents, or the opponents, of a proposal.  And, listeners need to understand Tim, that as a result of the actions of people such as Cassy O’Connor, the city of Clarence has missed out on a $200 million development at Ralphs Bay, and as I said on your program before Tim, the Walker Corporation development would have led to greatly needed infrastructure in the areas of sewerage, water and roads, not to mention the substantial benefits that would have flowed to the city in the form of jobs, tourism and increased investment in the City of Clarence.

And Tim, thanks to Cassy O’Connor and members of a small, anti-development group, the city of Clarence has missed out on an outstanding opportunity – a fantastic opportunity – to grow our ratebase and provide greatly needed services to areas of our city.

And Tim, Cassy O’Connor says she’s still waiting to hear from me.  Well, may I suggest that she doesn’t hold her breath as I’m spending my time with people who want to grow our city not hold it back and that’s why Tim, I’m offering myself as Mayor in next months election.

Ends.