Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4255 ..

MR STANHOPE: The new Leader of the Opposition, on his first day in the job in this place, adds $200 million. The "$200 million man", on his first day in the Assembly, adds $200 million to the health budget. There has been no analysis, no consultation, no costings, no understanding of health at all-just a shallow, simplistic, hypocritical, nonsensical, $200 million.

I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper, so that we can get to the debate about the $200 million.

Land development

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, in question time today, Ms Dundas asked me questions in relation to block 80, section 65 Belconnen, and block 23, section 149 Belconnen. I am happy to provide this information to Ms Dundas.

In relation to block 80, section 65, the Belconnen Community Council has commissioned a study-which, as I understand it, is being funded from the Chief Minister's Department-into whether there is a need for a cultural facility in the town centre. The Belconnen Town Centre master plan, which was approved by the ACT government in August 2001, identified block 5, section 187 for possible community uses associated with some commercial development.

All previous discussions between Planning and Land Management and the Belconnen Community Council have focused on block 5, section 187. This block is not in the December auction program. This follows on from a commitment I gave in this place following a question earlier this year from you, Ms Dundas. Given this, no consideration has been given to withholding block 80, section 65 from the program. If there is a need identified for community uses, block 5, section 187 will be the site considered.

In relation to block 23, section 149, this site has been identified as commercial on the Territory Plan since its inception. An allowed use for this site is residential purposes.

I am advised that the Belconnen Community Council does not accept that this should be a commercial site and that it wants the site incorporated into the open space network. Mr Speaker, the use of the site as commercial/residential was the subject of extensive consultation through the Belconnen Town Centre master plan process, and its use was confirmed through that process. Given that the proposals are consistent with the Territory Plan, as approved by the Assembly, and the intentions of the Belconnen Town Centre master plan, the government sees no reason for either of these blocks to be removed from tomorrow's auction.

Hospital implosion

MR STANHOPE: Yesterday I took a question from Mrs Cross on a Calderbank offer. A Calderbank offer is an offer of settlement made by one party to another in the course of litigation. If the offer is not accepted and its terms are more favourable for the party receiving it, then the outcome of it will be determined by the court and the court may make orders in relation to costs which are adverse to that party.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .