Victoria bans canal estates – New Victorian coastal strategy launched yesterday
11 December 2008

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The Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008, launched yesterday, prohibits the development of housing estates around man-made canals in a bid to protect estuarine environments. Development will also be avoided in low-lying coastal areas.

This follows an earlier ban on canal estates in NSW and a moratorium on canal estate construction on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Jane MacDonald, Save Ralphs Bay Inc’s Communications Coordinator, asks, “What about Tasmania?  Will Tasmania really be foolish enough to go down the canal estate road? Canal estates are now banned in Victoria, NSW and Queensland’s Gold Coast as a result of bitter experience.  Does Tasmania have to learn the hard way that canal estate developments are outdated and environmentally destructive?”

In 2006, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. (SRB) submitted a Draft Planning Directive to the RPDC for a statewide canal estate ban.  The RPDC recommended to the State Government that it be allowed to assess the merits or otherwise of such a Tasmanian canal estate ban.  However, the then Planning Minister, Steve Kons, refused to allow the State’s independent peak planning body to look into the matter despite the RPDC’s recommendation that it be allowed to do so.

In a letter to SRB dated 6 Dec 2006, Mr. Kons said, “Instead, I have asked my Department to consider a Planning Directive that incorporates criteria for assessing future canal development.”

“Does today’s Tasmanian State Government still support future canal developments for Tasmania’s coasts, regardless of the public outcry against the proposed Ralphs Bay development and regardless of the experience of other states?” asks Jane MacDonald.

“A comment from the Premier would be interesting.  He has given the community no indication of his position on this important issue.  Is the Tasmanian State Government going to release the State Coastal Policy soon, and will it reflect the realities of climate change and sea level rise?  Will it be in line with best Australian planning and environmental practice or will it continue Steve Kons’ outmoded pro-canal estate approach?”

Media contact:  Jane MacDonald 0406 993 425