Page 2449 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 August 2015

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with a new building that would have strong architectural links to the one lost in the fire, and that the new club site would have links to the Manuka Oval redevelopment. A minimum budget for construction was suggested of between $5 million and $7 million, with potential additional funding sources from the Australian Federal Police Association. On 18 May 2014 the club president talked about a possible land swap deal adjacent to Mocca that would allow a much larger club and a residential complex to be constructed by DHA. This was to allow the ACT government access to the site as part of the potential upgrade of Manuka Oval. Given this idea has been discussed since early 2014, why was Mocca not informed?

MR BARR: I thank Mr Doszpot for the question. Discussions that have been undertaken by the Services Club needed to go through their membership. I understand that they also involved the membership of the former Canberra Club that was located in the CBD. Once a firm proposal was put forward, information was made available.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.

MR DOSZPOT: Chief Minister, when was Montgomery Oval considered a suitable site for construction of a childcare centre?

MR BARR: Areas of ACT government have sought to examine potential sites for additional childcare facilities in the inner south. As is evident to everyone, there are limited opportunities. Land is scarce; certainly suitably zoned land is very scarce within the inner south. A number of sites were investigated that have subsequently been re-investigated in relation to this matter. That was one site that was considered suitable.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Lawder.

MS LAWDER: Chief Minister, when did the government know that Mocca was not in a financial position to rebuild or relocate?

MR BARR: The government had discussions with Mocca when it became apparent that a potential land swap was a way forward. It has sought to work with the board of Mocca to look at a variety of different options—either purchase of a block of land or being a tenant—

Ms Lawder: A point of order, Madam Speaker, the question was directly about when did the government know.

MADAM SPEAKER: I draw the Chief Minister’s attention to the provisions of the standing order that the answer should be concise and directly relevant to the subject matter. It was a time-based question of when.

MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the last fiscal year.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.


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