Page 2784 - Week 09 - Thursday, 27 September 2007
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closed as part of the schools 2020 program. It is also responsible for implementing the government’s policies of no waste by 2010. Minister, what is the policy on the disposal of excess material from closed schools? How much excess material has been disposed of, and where?
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I will have to take the substance of that question on notice, because I do not really have that material available to me. It will obviously take some time. But since we have another sitting period, I will bring it back, absolutely no question, because I will have to go site by site to find out what volume and what type.
I need to say this, though, Mr Speaker: we have very significant policies around the recycling of building materials. If we were talking, for example, about timber, or we were talking about brickwork, or we were talking about those sorts of things, they will go to recycling activities. That is my understanding. Where we have other materials like, for example, furniture, that is not my issue. That is not my issue, because I only own the building, I do not own the contents. I will take the question on notice.
Mr Barr: Mr Speaker, I am happy to advise.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Barr.
MR BARR: Mr Smyth’s question did relate to the contents. In fact, all of the material that was collected from closing schools was stored in a central location and made available to other schools. A significant proportion—something in the order of three-quarters—of equipment was redistributed amongst the other schools. There was a remaining amount that was made available, I understand, to charity. In fact, we were in negotiations with a number of charities. Also, I think there is a possibility of some of that equipment being made available to schools in East Timor. So a variety of discussions occurred.
In terms of the fine detail of every single item, I obviously do not have that information either. However, I am aware that there were a series of processes and that the vast majority of equipment was redistributed to other schools, as is appropriate. Anything that was not required by the schools was then made available to other organisations. I certainly had a meeting with representatives of organisations in East Timor who were interested in taking advantage of any material that might be available.
Mr Hargreaves: Mr Speaker, I now consider Mr Smyth’s question answered.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smith?
MR SMYTH: Mr Barr might like to take this one as well. Were any materials sent to landfill?
MR BARR: I will have to seek advice on that. It may well be that some were, but I would have to seek advice, and I will advise the Assembly once I have that information.
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