Page 5384 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 3 December 1991
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MR DUBY: I have a supplementary question, of course. In relation to that answer, I would like to point out to the Minister that the article quotes from a letter from him in which he refers to bed capacity, not bed numbers. To me, that has a totally different context as to the number of beds that have patients in them versus the number of beds that the system could operate. Seeing that there is a little bit of confusion, in my mind anyway, as a result of your first answer, could you undertake to provide members with a copy of that letter that you have sent to the Belconnen Community Council?
MR BERRY: I do not have any difficulty at all with that.
Policy Plan Changes
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Wood in his capacity as Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. Does the Minister know whether the Territory Planning Authority actually checks, by visits to the field, areas proposed for policy plan changes from open space to residential, or investigations for similar purposes?
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I would think, in general, that they do not check each location. There are a quite large number of those incorporated in the draft Territory Plan. I will check out clearly for you whether they go to every spot in respect of preparing that plan. I think you would accept that the people in the ACT Planning Authority have a pretty wide knowledge of Canberra. I think there would be few parts of Canberra and few precise areas that they have not seen over the years. All these areas would be quite familiar to them. But bear in mind the purpose of those investigation areas.
Mr Jensen: And policy plan changes.
MR WOOD: Yes, all right; but let me talk about the investigation areas. They are exactly as they say they are; they are investigation areas. If they stay in the draft plan at the end of the present process, they then become a matter for very serious consideration, quite detailed consideration. I know that the planners would visit each site. They would go into the detailed sort of examination that you want and you get from the Territory planners. There would be nothing left undone.
An example, I suppose, is that area of land at Curtin which it is now claimed was once a dump. That may be right. If that was missed in this preliminary passage, that would be brought out. The detailed examination would involve going into a great deal of records as well, Mr Jensen, not just a visit to the site. There is a great amount of work to be done if - and I say "if" - these investigation areas remain in the draft plan.
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