Page 1362 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 5 April 2005
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housing. Approximately 60,000 work orders are raised per year. The total expenditure on repairs and maintenance to June 2005 is expected to be $37.6 million. Of this, $16.5 million is allocated to planned and programmed works, including major work programs such as internal/external repainting, carpet replacement, fencing works, replacement of major appliances and property services, including common area cleaning and horticultural maintenance.
The department is currently retendering its total facility management contracts. In developing new contracts, HCS has built on its experience with the current contracts over the last four years. The newer TFMs will be required to demonstrate and maintain a high level of customer service to tenants. Importantly, it is proposed that customer satisfaction will be a key performance measure for the TFMs in the future. The contracts are focussed on obtaining better value for money on maintenance expenditure through a focus on planned maintenance. Residents of flats also indicated through the client satisfaction survey that they are concerned about security and safety. Residents of older persons’ units are concerned about open access to communal areas.
The government is committed to improving tenants’ sense of security. The government is working with the Australian Federal Police on crime prevention audits of multiunit sites. To the end of March 2005, nine audits have been completed. Tenants have had an opportunity to participate. The government will progress recommendations around improvements to assets and general tenancy management issues that reduce the opportunities for crime and improve the visual appeal of sites. Over $8.6 million will be spent on fire safety measures and security screen doors in major multiunit complexes this year. Further expenditure is planned for the coming financial years.
In addition to these activities, the government has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve service delivery to tenants. Recognising the need to improve the level of amenity for tenants, major refurbishment works are being carried out on Northbourne Flats in Braddon. These works include major kitchen and bathroom upgrades, painting and floor coverings, as well as improved fire safety and security arrangements. Upgrading of Northbourne Flats is expected to be completed by 30 June this year. In total, 107 units will be ungraded with an investment of $4 million over the last two years.
The government has commenced a process of development of land in Lyons, Braddon and Kingston. Through purchase and constructions, some 157 properties are expected to be—
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: The time allotted for this debate has expired.
Appropriation Bill 2004-2005 (No 2)
Debate resumed from 17 February 2005, on motion by Mr Quinlan:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (4.45): I had the opportunity to speak a little earlier today on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts report on this bill. I will now expand a little further on my observations on this bill. I recognise that, in the context of a $2.6 billion budget, $75 million is not a huge slice of that activity. But it is still
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