Page 526 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993
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Mr Kaine: There is a clothing store or something.
MR WOOD: There is something in there. It also included an area that was clearly understood to be local parkland with a children's play area, and I recognise the concern of residents. I have discussed the matter with the ACT Planning Authority. I believe that the Planning Authority will propose to withdraw that variation. I would expect that a further variation will emerge at some time. It takes into account those areas I have mentioned where clearly something needs to be done, but it will not impinge on that area which has some very good trees, is open and green and has a children's playground.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
MRS GRASSBY: Madam Speaker, I rise under standing order 46. I have been misrepresented. I did leave the chamber during an answer because my secretary called me to the door with a very serious problem to do with my family, and I object to Mr Cornwell, who did not know why I left the chamber. Normally I would not leave the chamber at question time.
Road Maintenance
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, a couple of questions were taken on notice during the sitting period. Last week Mr Westende asked me a question about road gangs. He asked in particular whether we were looking at following the practice in some States and councils of reducing the number of workers on road gangs from the usual six down to four, or two, or three, depending on the circumstances. I am able to advise Mr Westende that during the period that this Government has been in office the roads and maintenance section gangs have been progressively reviewed in conjunction with the unions - and I stress in conjunction and cooperation with the union movement - concerning their size and function. As a result of that, the bulk of road maintenance staff are now working in two- or three-person gangs. The remaining larger gangs are specifically designed for the work involved in major projects such as major hot mix surfacing, but even there we are regularly reviewing the size of those major gangs. We are constantly trying to use more appropriate technology and additional technical advice is always being taken to look at the optimum size of gangs. I would also note that gangs in the ACT provide their own traffic control, which is a time consuming task and in some places is done by separate groups of workers.
ACTION - Job Vacancy
MR CONNOLLY: Yesterday, Mr Westende asked me a question about a store position at ACTION. The position in question is that of a senior store supervisor, grade 1. The position was advertised in the press as well as the Government Gazette to broaden the field of potential applicants, so the position was advertised both internally and externally. Some 70 applications were received. I think Mr Westende is probably correct in saying that about 60 of them were internal. A normal merit selection process was carried out. The selection panel selected a public servant, but a person from outside ACTION. A second panel was convened which confirmed the first panel's recommendation. The recommendation was then processed through the normal promotion processes. The promotion did attract an appeal and the Promotions Appeal Committee upheld the original decision.
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