Page 609 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991

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Mr Hudson stated that the private, social and economic costs estimated by the Save Our Schools group and Dr Perkins were grossly overestimated. Mr Hudson rejected the proposed administrative amalgamation of Giralang-Kaleen-Maribyrnong. He supported the twin campus trials at Melba-Spence and at Griffith-Narrabundah primary schools.

Mr Moore: Qualified support.

MR HUMPHRIES: Perhaps. The Government announced its decisions on schools reshaping on 20 November 1990. They were: Four primary schools - Cook, Hackett, Holder and Lyons - to close at the end of the year, with the relocation of Lyons Primary School being delayed if the South Curtin site is not ready to accommodate them; Holder high to amalgamate with Weston Creek high; twin campus schools to be trialled at Melba-Spence and Griffith-Narrabundah primary schools; the administrative amalgamation of Kaleen-Giralang-Maribyrnong not to be pursued; Higgins, Rivett and Weetangera to remain open; establishment of a special task force to examine the long-term restructuring of the ACT schools system; and, finally, the Belconnen High School task force to continue its deliberations and report its findings to the Government in 1991.

The Government is committed, through this decision, to maintain the high standard of education which is provided for the students in the ACT public education system. Mr Speaker, I table the following paper:

Hudson Report - Ministerial statement, 21 February 1991.

I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Debate (on motion by Mr Wood) adjourned.

CASUARINA SANDS WEIR
Ministerial Statement

MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services), by leave: Casuarina Sands has been a popular recreation area for many years, catering for swimming and picnicking since the 1920s. The upper weir was constructed in 1962 and raised water levels immediately upstream by 1.5 metres. Since that upper weir was built nine people have been killed in the general area. While no single cause can be pinpointed, four of the deaths have occurred when people have been trapped in turbulence caused by the weir wall itself. There have been numerous other instances of people getting into difficulties around the weir, even during low river flows, but these have not led to fatalities and have therefore escaped public attention and reporting.


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