Page 2566 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 15 November 1989

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MS FOLLETT: The investigations unit is a part of the ACT Government Administration and, as such, it is part of the Chief Minister's Division. In the normal course of events it would not report directly to me; it would report directly to the head of that division. That has been the procedure that it has followed, as far as I am aware. From time to time the head of that division has brought matters to my notice and I have spoken to members of the investigations unit. But they certainly do not come to me for instructions, nor do they approach me in the first instance on any of the work that they are doing. Therefore, I am not able to make any comment on the allegations Mr Collaery has put forward concerning Mr John Rockley or the Residents Rally or Mr David Lawrence, who is also a member of the administration. It may be best if I were to perhaps take the latter part of that question on notice, Mr Speaker, and, if it is convenient, respond to the Assembly on that as soon as I can, because it is not a matter that I have had any involvement in, as far as I am aware.

Driveways

MRS NOLAN: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services and it relates yet again to driveway construction. Does the Minister consider seven months, or almost seven months, to be an unreasonable time to wait for a driveway to be constructed? Would the Minister explain why a resident at Theodore has been waiting since 24 May and why he is now being told that he may be waiting until after Christmas before any action is taken?

MRS GRASSBY: The delays in providing residential driveways in the Tuggeranong area and throughout other areas have been mainly due to extremely wet weather experienced in the past 12 months and some problems in awarding contracts. Additional resources have been applied to reduce the backlog and, subject to weather conditions, the target of providing a driveway within four weeks of the completion of the new home should be achieved by the end of the year. In the past two months 475 driveways have been completed and this has been done specifically in order to reduce the backlog of driveways waiting to be constructed.

MRS NOLAN: I ask a supplementary question. Could I have an answer to the first part of my question? Does the Minister consider almost seven months to be an unreasonable time to wait for a driveway to be constructed?

MRS GRASSBY: That depends on the weather. If the contractors are in an area and they cannot get the work done because of the rain, then it can take several months.


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