Page 865 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016

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Tuggeranong—offensive odours

MS FITZHARRIS: I refer to questions raised yesterday by Ms Lawder and Mr Wall regarding odours in some suburbs in Tuggeranong. I gave an undertaking that I would check a number of facts on the work undertaken by the EPA in particular to identify the source of the odour. I can confirm the answers and advice I provided to the Assembly yesterday. But specifically in relation to Ms Lawder’s question on analysis, I can say that the EPA had certainly commenced its assessment of the source of the odour much earlier than the end of February. This has included collating data from complaints, talking to numerous affected residents, mapping data to look for patterns, talking to experts in the New South Wales EPA, discussing activity with the Mugga tip operator and the operator of the green waste site also located at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre. Clearly the EPA is looking at all the data it has to see if there is any pattern or conclusion it can draw about the source, as I indicated yesterday.

The EPA is continuing to investigate multiple possible sources of the odour, including the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre, the green waste run by Corkhills, sewer out-lines and other possible sources such as open ponds or drains. Obviously that work is not complete. The simple fact is that the data received so far does not show any clear trends which point to a source. For instance, there is no obvious link between the times and places people have reported odours and any activities at Mugga. The more specific and timely data the EPA receives about this, the more accurate its analysis can be.

In relation to Mr Wall’s questions, ACT NOWaste defines putrescible waste as material likely to decompose. Further, the ACT’s green waste is a separate waste stream. As members would be aware, a large component of green waste in the ACT is recycled.

There is no definitive answer to the question about what other states and territories do and no consistent reporting mechanism that would allow us to check. Members should also be aware that putrescible waste is one of the over 50 waste streams that the ACT waste feasibility study is investigating. I look forward to updating the Assembly on that in the coming months.

Safe Schools Coalition

Debate resumed.

MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Urban Renewal) (3.21): I begin by thanking Mr Hinder for bringing this motion before the Assembly today. I think it is important that the Assembly states very clearly our values in relation to this program and our values in relation to the individuals it is designed to support. The government will not be accepting any watering down of the intent of this motion, as we have witnessed from the shadow minister, who in his contribution did almost everything he possibly could to avoid talking about the


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