Report from Hobart Airport - 15km NE of Ralphs Bay
Temperature: 9°C (48°F)

Save Ralphs Bay Inc. (SRB) is a community action group with a strong regional support base. SRB was formed in March 2004 in response to the Walker Corporation's proposal to excavate the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area at Lauderdale and construct a canal style housing estate in the bay.
SRB's constitutional objectives are to oppose this and any other inappropriate developments at Ralphs Bay, to work towards enhanced protection of the natural, aesthetic and community values of Ralphs Bay and to promote an approach to coastal planning in Tasmania that will prevent future inappropriate developments in coastal areas.
SRB provides well researched information to appropriate bodies and maintains an open information base for supporters with up-to-date information on the progress of decision making regarding the proposal.
In support of its stated objectives, SRB has networked widely, researched many issues and maintained a strong public information campaign through media liaison, public information evenings with expert speakers, community expo days, rallies in City Hall, information stalls in the community and at the Coast to Coast Conference, newsletters, political lobbying at all governmental levels and preparation of numerous submissions.
SRB was the Community Groups Project winner for the 2005 Dr. Edward Hall Environment Awards and was inducted into the Hobart City Council Hall of Fame.
This web site holds information pertaining to Save Ralphs Bay Inc. activities since its inception in 2004. To locate information, check the Site Navigation menu above or scroll for chronological postings.
Read our Dr. Edward Hall Environment Award Entry for 2008.
Contaminants
Walker Corporation (Walker) has significantly amended the proposed construction programme in relation to the dredging, treatment and placement of contaminated sediments. Walker’s experts agreed that considerably more sampling was required to determine the extent of contaminated sediments in the proposed development area.
Download a pdf version
Yesterday, Monday June 22nd, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. called its first expert witness in the RPDC Hearings into the Walker Corporation’s proposed Ralphs Bay canal estate.
Dr. Ruth Eriksen explained the “Ralphs Bay conundrum” – the fact that, while Ralphs Bay sediments may, under some testing regimes, show low levels of heavy metal contamination, the mercury levels in Ralphs Bay food chains are often alarmingly high. For example, the levels of mercury detected in Ralphs Bay flathead are among the highest to be found anywhere in the Derwent estuary.
Download a pdf version of the media release at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia23Jun09.pdf
Commencing on June 17th, the RPDC will hold public hearings on Walker Corporation’s Draft Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS).
Hearings will be held at Federal Court No.1 in Davey Street at the following times: 9:00am – 11:00am, 11:30am – 1:00pm, 2:00pm – 3:00pm and 3:30pm – 4:30pm.
“Moods of the Bay”, an exhibition of Ralphs Bay photographic images, will be opened by Senator Bob Brown on Friday. The exhibition is being held at The Salamanca Collection Gallery from 10am this Friday April 24 until 5pm on Sunday. Download pdf at http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMediaRelease22Apr09.pdf
•READ MORE... •“The Walker Corporation’s canal estate proposal is fundamentally, fatally flawed” says Dr. Eric Woehler, Chair of Birds Tasmania.
Save Ralphs Bay and Birds Tasmania representatives will be available at Parliament lawns at 11.30am today to highlight some of the deficiencies in the Walker Corporation’s Draft Integrated Impact Statement for its proposed ‘Lauderdale Quay’ canal estate development.
Download pdf at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia14April09.pdf
•READ MORE... •The Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) has received 547 submissions in response to the Draft
Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS) for a proposed canal housing development in Ralphs Bay. Very few submissions are in favour of the development.
Download at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMediaAlert9April09.pdf
Liberal Leader Will Hodgman, Greens Leader Nick McKim, Franklin Labor MHA Ross Butler
and independent MLC Terry Martin join scientists and members of the Lauderdale
community featured on a DVD and internet production to be launched by Save Ralphs Bay
Inc. today.
Download a pdf version of the newsletter at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia300309.pdf
Save Ralphs Bay’s recent newsletter draws the attention of the public to concerns over the Walker Corporation’s Draft Integrated Impact Statement (DIIS). The newsletter focuses on aspects of the DIIS indicating that Walker Corporation’s canal estate may not be as glossy as recent PR suggested.
Download a pdf version of the newsletter at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/Newsletters/NewsLetterIssue17.pdf
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