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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2682 ..


MR QUINLAN: It was the V8 race. The price tag was heading up towards $6 million per year, Mr Pratt. If you would like to let us know just how much you are prepared to spend, we might be able to go back and factor that in to see how we go. However, I really think we might have a little difficulty. Mr Stefaniak, of course, proudly gave them $70,000 to run a feasibility study with absolutely no intention of doing anything other than getting to election date without any more problems.

Gungahlin Drive extension

MRS DUNNE: I was overcome by Mr Quinlan's thespian performance. My question, Mr Speaker, is to the Minister for Planning. Mr Corbell, yesterday you stated in answer to Mrs Cross that the GDE is still on track for completion by winter 2005. You were asked when the draft variation process would commence and you said it would start, and I quote, "shortly after September".

On 10 December last year, you were told by your department that the Gungahlin Drive project would need to have a draft variation and PA released for public comment by mid-June this year. You were subsequently advised that that timetable was very tight. I ask for leave to table the chart provided to you in December 2001.

Leave granted.

MRS DUNNE: I present the following paper:

Gungahlin Drive extension-Chart detailing construction timeline.

Minister, we are now in August and you have admitted that you are already running three months late. How do you anticipate meeting the 2005 winter timetable?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I have not admitted that we are running late. We are on time. Let me outline the facts for the information of members. The ACT government's preferred route of the western alignment was announced on 20 June, as was the process that was to outline the next steps and the indicative time lines. The government's time lines are those as outlined on 20 June. Discussion with community groups is currently taking place and will be concluded by late spring of 2002.

The ACT planning process will take place between winter 2002 and autumn 2003. That clearly includes a draft variation of the Territory Plan. The Commonwealth planning process will take place between summer 2003 and winter 2003. Detailed design of the stage one works will take place between spring 2003 and summer 2004. Construction works for stage one will take place between spring 2003 and winter 2005, with the Gungahlin Drive extension from the Barton Highway to Belconnen Way being completed by June 2005, and the upgrade of Caswell Drive and the Glenloch Interchange being completed by June 2006. Mr Speaker, that is the government's time frame.

MRS DUNNE

: When will you come clean with the residents and let them know that your timetable is not achievable, given that you have allocated a mere year to conduct the draft variation process, and the last time a draft variation process under your tutelage took more than two years to undertake. When will you come clean with the residents of


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