No rubber stamp for Ralphs Bay, says minister
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The Tasmanian Environment and Planning Minister says the proposed new multi-million dollar, marina-style development planned for Ralphs Bay, east of Hobart, will be examined under the best planning laws in Australia.
The Walker Corporation has submitted a formal proposal for the development, asking for it to be treated as a project of state significance.
The proposal is significantly smaller than the original project.
If State Cabinet approves the company's request, the future of the project will be determined by the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC).
Minister Judy Jackson says the involvement of the RPDC will ensure a completely independent process.
"If you look at Basslink, for example, the RPDC there made sure that was constructed with a reverse cable," she said.
"They actually put that condition on that proposal going ahead; they also knocked off Oceanport.
"It's not a rubber stamp, our planning process."
The Walker Corporation denies it had always planned to submit a plan for a significantly smaller project than first floated.
Walker says after three months of public consultation it has halved the size of the development to about 400 housing allotments and abandoned the proposal to re-open the canal.
Cassie O'Connor from the Save Ralphs Bay group claims it was standard business practice for a company to first float a larger project than it intended to develop, to get the community on side.
However, Lia Morris from the Walker Corporation says the company has the best interests of the Lauderdale community at heart.
"Walker Corporation has been put through a process that no other proponent has had to go through," she said.
"We have actually gone through a rigorous three-month public consultation process, we've listened to the community feedback, and we've responded accordingly with the proposal we've lodged today with Government."
