The Ralph's Bay development proposal has been shown the red light by the Tas planning commission; for those not in the know, Walker Corporation wanted to reclaim our main windsurfing bay for a marina style housing and industrial development.
This quote from The Mercury
MICHAEL STEDMAN
October 21, 2009 01:50pm
UPDATE: THE Ralphs Bay canal project has been dealt a killer blow after it was today rejected by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
The former Resource Planning and Development Commission posted its draft assessment a short time ago, concluding that the Walker Corporation proposal should not go ahead.
"The Panel finds that, although well designed and engineered, the proposed development would be a major and unacceptable intervention into Ralphs Bay," the report stated.
"The only substantial factor in favour of recommendation that the project proceed is that the 'reclamation' stage of the project would most likely bring economic benefits for the State... in the order of $35.6 million."
It argued that those benefits were far outweighed by a range of factors, including that the proposal was "an inherently unsustainable approach to satisfying demand for residential land."
It also recommended that the Australian Government reject the development under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act because of its impact on bird species.
It found the development would have an unacceptable and detrimental effect on the red-necked stint and pied oystercatcher and would exacerbate the threat to the endangered spotted hand-fish.
The panel remained to be convinced that there was significant demand for the canal lots to off-set the risks of the project failing because of poor sales.
"The strength and depth of demand for the proposal has not been demonstrated by the Proponent to a point where the Panel could confidently recommend approval in the light of these risks."
This is the bay in question:
Now that deserves a Boags! 
Sounds like a sensible decision and is good news for you guys.
OT - Had a look where it was on google earth (never been to TAS) and came across this little strip of water on Bruny Island. The mark is 5km long and if I'm not mistaken would this be one of the best speed strips in Aus. with a good South easter blowing or the ocean side with a NW.
Yes Saus, would be except for the range of dunes down the isthmus which block the wind in close, and the fact that at low tide you'd need wheels under your board. In a NW it's extremely choppy because it's so shallow. Having said that I've only checked it out a few times driving by - someone else may have sailed it and found it ok.
mmmm, looking at that photo again, I wonder if the tide ever gets so low that the entire sand flat is exposed leaving a short bank and nice flat deep water (where your line is)? That would be good!
Tasmanians are lucky the NSW branch of the ALP isn't running the state. Otherwise Richo would have had a long lunch with a few people who matter on behalf of the developer and there would have been a whole different outcome.
Nice looking spots down there. What are the summer winds like in Tasmania?
if you come up north west of tas in summer we rage from NW to NE directions with most days around the 18-25 knots and with the other occasional day of around 25-33 knots.on the west coast at our henty river it can just really really blow 35-45 at that speed strip which is now grown to around 800m long due current flow and eating its way down the beach.if it grows a tad more it will link up with another river and will become well over a NM long !.the wind that hits that is dead clean strait from the sea around 35m away.
Well its lucky that a certain forestry company wasn't involved in the development. Maybe they will buy the land up now and then put in a new development proposal if they need to do it.
Sounds really great down there for windsurfing.
easty,
dave and steve have been sailing at the couseway down there and have pulled some nice numberes with some flat water for a NM run latley. they really love it !!
Yep seen them out there. Looks like I'll be in D'port for christmas, so will be out at Shearwater if there's wind. Would like to sail Henty too, does it get a westerly seabreeze in summer, or do you only sail on the winter westerlies? Used to fish for the sea-runners there, nice spot.
All this talk of Tassie is making me home sick! I'll be down there for 2 weeks over christmas/new years - might have to visit dorans again - has been sooooo long!
Hey Fletch, there might be westerlys for Dorans, but more likely seabreeze so the crew will likely be around Cremorne, either the lagoon (Honeywood Drive) or the main beach. Or Lauderdale main beach, or Clifton. Although with an easterly you can, depending on tide, get a great offshore at Dorans, mirror flat. I had it to myself once like that, it was just awesome. Might see ya down here.
I couldn't resist asking if this is what windsurfers are called in Tasmania ?
).
Yeah Fletch the lagoon gets the seabreeze from S to SE. Check it out on Google Earth and you'll see the E-W running channel. High tides you can sail over the sandflats, on a really low tide only the channel is wet, makes a good little speed run. Popular user friendly spot, and in summer the water can heat up nicely. Launch from the W shore down the end of Honeywood Drive.
Edit: actually sailed there today, in an antsy pantsy easterly seabreeze - took the longboard for a cruise.
