Page 2125 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
(7) The improvements undertaken by the Joint Venture will be to the section from Hindmarsh Drive to Wilbow Street.
Waste disposal—dumping guidelines
(Question No 1602)
Dr Foskey asked the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, upon notice, on 29 May 2007:
(1) Is the Minister aware that the operators of the Belconnen Golf Course allegedly are using a section of the property as a dumping ground for waste material including electrical equipment, household waste and building materials;
(2) Is such dumping on this site approved or regulated; if so, when did environment officers last inspect the site to ensure it is meeting with environmental guidelines on dumping; if not, why has the Department of Territory and Municipal Services not yet responded to complaints from residents regarding this dumping despite these complaints having been lodged through Canberra Connect over two months ago, in mid-February.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Yes.
(2) The dumping of materials on the golf course site has not been approved. The complaint of 16 February 2007 regarding the alleged dumping on the golf course was sent by Canberra Connect to the City Rangers Licensing and Compliance section in the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS). As the complaint included matters that are the responsibility of the ACT Planning and Land Authority (Authority), it was forwarded to that agency on 18 April 2007.
Inspectors from the Authority undertook inspections on three occasions between 24 April 2007 and 6 June 2007. The inspection on 6 June 2007 was conducted jointly with inspectors of the Environment Regulation Unit of TAMS.
The operator of the Belconnen Golf Course has advised Authority inspectors that the dumping which has occurred had been as a result of after hours illegal dumping by members of the public in the car park area of the block.
The golf course operator has advised inspectors that they had moved the materials over a period of time to an area away from public view.
Arrangements have been made by the golf course to remove the materials from the site by Friday 15 June 2007. Inspectors from the Authority will monitor the removal of the rubbish.
At the 6 June 2007 inspection TAMS environment regulation inspectors, advised that there was no evidence of contamination from the dumping of waste at the golf course and as a consequence there are no issues of concern in terms of relevant environmental requirements.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .