Page 298 - Week 01 - Thursday, 17 February 2011
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The options paper indicates that some dwellings may pose health and safety risks and calls for a process for identifying and addressing those compliance issues. From next week the government, having consulted fully and in detail with residents, most particularly quite extensively over this last year, will engage a contractor to undertake a compliance assessment of every single dwelling in the park, focusing on those issues that go to health and safety. If the assessment identifies concerns with a particular dwelling the government will work with the owner or the occupant to examine options for remedying the situation.
In relation to ownership, it is proposed that the park be retained by the government for at least the foreseeable future. I put in the caveat that the government has no intention of not retaining ownership and custodianship and it will continue to be managed by Housing ACT.
Security of tenure is, and has, I think, always been, one of the most important issues for residents. The government proposes three-year occupancy agreements as the default arrangement, replacing the current month-by-month arrangement. These agreements will be subject to residents meeting a range of conditions, most particularly including those relating to issues identified during the compliance and safety inspections that will be conducted in coming weeks.
In recognition of the fact that the park dwellings are not limited to caravans, and indeed I do not think there are any workable caravans there now, we will—(Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: My supplementary is: firstly, Chief Minister, do you have anything to add to the original question I had and could you please detail how the residents of Narrabundah park have been informed of the government’s response to the options paper?
MR STANHOPE: The only other issue which I was going to go to and which Mr Hargreaves has invited me to complete was that the government is aware—and I am sure members are aware—that the park dwellings are not limited to caravans to date. Indeed, I am not sure whether there are any workable caravans at all within the park. This is one of the complexities that have developed over 30 years in relation to the way in which this particular park has operated.
In recognition of that reality, the government will amend the lease purpose clause to formalise the site’s use as a mobile home park. These are only interim actions. The government’s interest initially and at this time is simple. We want a park that is affordable, safe and managed in the interests of the park community.
In relation to the more substantive issue that Mr Hargreaves raises in his supplementary question, the government has worked very closely through our agencies, most particularly LAPS and Housing ACT, to work with each and every one of the residents in relation to these proposals in the government’s response.
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