Page 560 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 14 March 2007
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of Education and Training and were transferred to the Department of Territory and Municipal Services on 31 December 2006. The Department of Education and Training has advised that a further 11 schools and preschools are to be closed, declared surplus over the next two calendar years, and in turn transferred to my department.
Mr Speaker, I want to dispel up front any suggestion that the government has decided to sell any former school site. Frightening the horses does not impress me. It makes good media copy but it does not impress me. All it really does is exacerbate the discomfort of the people out there in the community. No decisions about any usage, whether rental or sale, have been made at this stage.
Mrs Burke: At this stage.
MR HARGREAVES: Mrs Burke whispers into the ether, “Not made at this stage.” Well, guess what? We will make one. Have no fear, Mrs Burke, we will have one. We will make a decision. Do not worry. We will not be like the Liberal Party—we will actually make a decision and stand by it.
Mr Speaker, the government has a surplus property policy that is used to evaluate and determine how properties that are either surplus or potentially surplus should best be utilised. Accordingly, the government has commenced an evaluation program for the nine schools and preschools that have already closed and the 11 that are to be closed. There are many alternative use options that can be considered, including use for other government purposes. For example, the former Holder primary school is now the home of Therapy ACT. We could use them for community tenancies. For example, the former Hackett primary school contains a number of community tenants, including ACT Sports House, and ACTCOSS is moving into the former Griffith primary school. Another option is disposal. For example, the former Yarralumla preschool, which had a problem with asbestos and lead paint, was demolished and the land was sold last year for a childcare centre.
The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the surplus property policy and will include full consultation with the Canberra community before the government decides what to do with each property. In this regard, I can confirm that the government will provide the Canberra community with all relevant information about the options and the cost benefits of retaining all or part of each site. In undertaking this evaluation process the government is committed to taking as long as it requires to arrive at an outcome that is fully cognisant of community attitudes and aspirations for the sites. The government will make its decision at the time that it is appropriate to do so, and will not agree to deferring the decision until after the ACT election, as such a deferment may preclude a decision that could benefit the territory.
In order to have an effective evaluation process, the government has established an interdepartmental committee to conduct an initial review of the sites and advise the government of strategic priorities associated with the potential use or disposal of the sites. The IDC will provide the government with an effective community consultation program. This IDC will also review and report on the condition audits prepared for the schools and preschools that have already closed. Depending upon the findings of this review, it may be concluded that one or more of the buildings on the sites cannot be
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