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[Manderson, Roland]

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GREENS MLA KERRIE TUCKER MEDIA RELEASE 
GREENS MLA KERRIE TUCKER MEDIA RELEASE

 28 June 2002

East O'Malley complaint to Commissioner for the Environment 


Greens MLA Kerrie Tucker has lodged a complaint with the ACT Commissioner
for the Environment over the Government's decision to sell 27 hectares of
endangered woodland in East O'Malley for residential development.

"This land contains high conservation value Yellow Box/Red Gum grassy
woodland which is a declared endangered ecological community. The Government
has dumped its pre-election commitment to protecting Canberra's open space
in approving the sale of this land," Ms Tucker said.

"While the Commissioner for the Environment does not have the power to
overturn the decision, it would be very unwise for the Government to ignore
his opinion. In fact the Commissioner for the Environment was set up in 1993
when the ALP was previously in power, so I would hope that the Government
respects his role."

"The Government must defer the sale of this land, scheduled for 16 August,
until this investigation is completed."

"The Commissioner for the Environment is like an environmental ombudsman who
has a statutory function to investigate complaints regarding the management
of the environment by the Government or its agencies or to initiate his own
investigations."

"The Commissioner, Dr Joe Baker, undertook a similar investigation when the
former Liberal Government proposed to develop endangered grasslands in
Conder. His scientific approach will be most welcome as a balance to the
Government's drive to generate revenue from land sales." Ms Tucker said.


MEDIA CONTACT ROLAND MANDERSON 62050161 or 0412241379


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