Page 1851 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 May 2013
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MR WALL: Minister, what assurances has the government provided to the local residents and the childcare investors surrounding this project?
MR RATTENBURY: I think the government’s commitment lies in the fact that it has funded the project. The project is going ahead. As I have just outlined, the project is well underway. Quite a lot of it is there, so there is a definite commitment to deliver this. Unfortunately, the company, Tread Lightly Earthmoving, has gone into administration. It is unfortunate that the company has experienced that financial difficulty, but the government is now proceeding to get a new contractor and to get the job done.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, when will the new contractor be appointed, and what is the cost of the delay to taxpayers?
MR RATTENBURY: As I indicated, we believe the delay will be approximately six weeks. A new contractor will be appointed as soon as possible. I have not had an update on whether one has been appointed yet, but I do not believe so. And I am not aware of any cost additions. The way these projects work is that they are, of course, paid in milestones. There will be an outstanding sum of funds attached to this project that have not been paid to Tread Lightly because of the work they have not completed. That will be used to fund the remaining works. If there are any cost increases, that is something that will have to be managed.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how important is it to continue to support sustainable transport options like the park and ride for Tuggeranong?
MR RATTENBURY: I think it is incredibly important, Mr Gentleman. This provides a transport alternative, or will provide, when it is completed, a transport alternative for residents in southern Tuggeranong. I think the significant level of community interest in this project—we have seen some media on it in the past and there has been community representation about it—indicates how supportive the community are of this sort of initiative. For some people it will mean that they can drive down to Calwell, leave their car there, get a bus to the city or Woden and not have to pay for parking and then get a bus home at night, maybe get the shopping and head home in their car. It provides more flexible transport options for the people of that part of Tuggeranong.
Transport—cycling
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services and relates to the condition of bike lanes and cyclepaths. Minister, given the government’s considerable investment in cyclepaths and bike lanes throughout the ACT and the desire to encourage people to use cycle lanes to commute, there are bike lanes along main roads such as Hindmarsh Drive continuously in a dangerous state of
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