Page 2938 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015
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When the community reports problems, I get a lot of positive feedback from people who say they either contacted Canberra Connect or they have written to me directly or to other members of the Assembly. It is fair to say that people would characterise TAMS as being very responsive to their concerns. I can assure members that TAMS will continue to do so over the coming financial year through the moneys allocated in this appropriation.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (8.42): I want to make a few points about the Territory and Municipal Services portfolio which we discussed in the estimates hearing. The first one I want to talk about tonight, which we discussed in estimates, was the issue of some works that were done at the Mugga Lane tip over the Christmas and new year break. I had quite a large number of complaints from constituents about the tip, so I requested a briefing from the minister’s office, which they were most happy to provide. Following that briefing, in early January, I got an email confirming the points we discussed at the briefing. To their credit, the email seemed to have been sent on a Saturday morning at 6.30 am, which was pretty impressive. It said:
• … agreed from the meeting with Nicole Lawder …
• TAMS announced on 12 December 2014 that it was undertaking one-off modification works at Mugga Lane landfill between 27 November and 24 December 2014 to maximise the amount of useable space in the current operational cell.
• The work is preparatory to the opening of new landfill cells in 2015 and is designed to allow the final fill profile to be achieved to maximise useable space, and ensure value for money for the level of public investment in the landfill.
• This work exposed and relocated covered, decomposing waste, resulting in a strong, intermittent odour being noticed by residents in nearby suburbs in Tuggeranong.
• The work ceased on 24 December but without achieving its objective due to various factors, including rain delays and the high level of waste compaction.
• The work recommenced, after the Christmas-New Year period, and will cease on Friday 6 February 2015, although the odour may be experienced for a few days while remaining exposed waste is covered with soil.
• It is not expected that this type of work will be required again and the first of two new landfill cells is expected to be ready to receive waste in February 2015.
• The use of odour suppressant spray has mitigated the exposure but a small number of residents in nearby suburbs may experience smells until early February.
It was good to get the confirmation of the points. There are a few things I would like to point out.
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