Page 2523 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 October 1992
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Park and Ride Spaces
MR STEVENSON: My question is to Mr Connolly. The Minister will be aware of concerns about a lack of park and ride spaces at Woden. Firstly, I commend the initiative that allows drivers to park in free car parks at Woden, Belconnen and Tuggeranong and then catch a bus to and from the city. While I realise that the park and ride spaces have been doubled at Woden since the introduction of the scheme about a year ago, would Mr Connolly indicate two things? First, what is the estimate of the number of spaces that will be required at Woden, considering current increases? Secondly, what is being done to further increase the number of spaces at Woden?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Stevenson for his question. Park and ride clearly has been a success. We have been, through park and ride, directing a number of motorists who otherwise would have been coming into the city by private motor vehicle transport onto the public transport system, with a consequent significant saving to the ACT community and a significant environmental benefit. Park and ride has been so successful at Woden that the original allocation has had to be doubled and we are currently experiencing some difficulties. Mr Stevenson is correct in pointing that out to us.
We do have something of a problem in allocating park and ride spaces at Woden in that a number of people who have purchased the park and ride tickets are not regularly utilising them. That means that an observer could think that there are underused spaces which we should be on-selling. In fact, they are purchased spaces which are not being used every day. We are monitoring the situation and it is likely that we will need yet another expansion of the Woden park and ride facility, which would represent almost a trebling of the original allocation. This means that the program is very successful.
Department of Education and Training - Secretary
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister in her capacity as Minister responsible for public service matters. I refer the Chief Minister to her reply to the Leader of the Opposition's question without notice on Wednesday, 16 September, concerning the process of selecting the new Secretary of the Department of Education and Training. Ms Follett, you replied that Ms Vardon was recommended for the position. Thank you for nodding agreement with what I said. Will you clarify this reply by indicating whether the independent selection committee recommended Ms Vardon as the most meritorious candidate?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I can certainly say that the independent selection panel recommended Ms Vardon.
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, that was not my question. I will repeat my question. Her original reply was that Ms Vardon was recommended for the position. Will she clarify that, please, by indicating whether the independent selection committee recommended Ms Vardon as the most meritorious candidate?
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