Page 3400 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 11 October 1994
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Motor Sports - Noise Pollution
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. I ask the Minister: What is the Government doing about the continuing noise complaints arising from the motor racing at Fairbairn Park? It is a very relevant question.
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, the Government is endeavouring most seriously to fix the problem; that is, to find a better site, a permanent site, for motor racing where they can have unlimited racing without affecting the neighbourhood. It seems to me, from something I saw on television last night, that the shadow Minister for the Environment in this Assembly is seeking actively to diminish the quality of the ACT environment by having no regard at all for the pollution caused by motor vehicles.
Mr De Domenico: Where have the complaints come from?
MR WOOD: The complaints, for Mr De Domenico's information, come predominantly from New South Wales; but they also come from ACT citizens. Mr De Domenico, I have a responsibility to see that we establish high standards. I accept that responsibility most willingly. If it happens to affect New South Wales residents, I believe that we have a responsibility to do so.
Mr De Domenico: Give them the same standard as New South Wales - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR WOOD: That is not exactly the case in every circumstance. Madam Speaker, some little time ago we established a number of sites for close examination. I think at that time we briefed the then shadow Minister for the Environment. We carried out acoustic studies of those sites. That threw up certain difficulties and led us to examine further what we might do in management of those four potential sites if further acoustic testing suggested that there was a possibility of any one of those sites being a racing site.
Since that time we have added a further site for examination. We are presently looking at five sites which might best be suited for motor racing and which, at the same time, will not impact by providing noise pollution for local residents. We do care about our local residents. Mr De Domenico, we will make a decision when we have thoroughly examined all the issues. We do not click the fingers and make a decision overnight; we give it careful scrutiny and assess all the issues.
We are working through that process. We have, at other times, involved the Opposition. We involve other people and keep them informed as to what is happening. The shadow Minister for the Environment might like to neglect the responsibilities that his leader gave him. Nevertheless, I take seriously the charge that I have been given as Environment Minister. The Government certainly wants motor sport to continue in the ACT. We acknowledge the role that it has and the wide following that it has. We believe that we can satisfy all interests in this respect.
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