Page 962 - Week 03 - Thursday, 10 March 2016
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MR GENTLEMAN: The LDA has undertaken some of the preliminary analysis for this area between the Tuggeranong town centre and the Murrumbidgee River in Tuggeranong, exploring the suitability of the land for development. I gave it that task with some work with the Chief Minister several years ago. It takes time to understand some of the challenges involved in those new urban areas. Of course, the ACT government has a strong policy of 50 per cent urban renewal as well as 50 per cent green fill. We want to make sure that that fits into our current planning policy.
The early feedback so far from the community has been very positive. There have been some concerns about the river corridor. They have been well viewed and well shown in the media as well. We will be taking all of that analysis on board as we move forward.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Can the minister explain the benefits of keeping the development on this side of the river, adjacent to the town centre, as opposed to going over and further putting at risk the river corridor?
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes, we know that Senator Seselja floated the idea of doing residential development to the west of the Murrumbidgee. I can say that, in discussions with Senator Seselja just the other day, he was very keen on the new development being proposed by the ACT government. Added to that, he would like to see it go a little bit further. Of course, we have concerns about the environment. We also have concerns about the cost of going west of the Murrumbidgee. We know the Tuggeranong Community Council have a motion opposing going west of the Murrumbidgee. So we take those community concerns on board.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, why is the government pouring massive resources into other areas of Canberra, including $698 million for light rail, when Tuggeranong is deprived of basic amenities such as a clean lake and effective transport services?
MR GENTLEMAN: Of course light rail is part of our integrated transport network plan for the whole of the territory, not just one end of it. It is important that we focus on those areas where congestion is at its maximum. We know from the Infrastructure Australia report that if we do not do something about the cost of congestion it will be $700 million a year to territorians in the near future. It is important to focus on options for public transport as well as focusing on Tuggeranong. That is what I will be doing, certainly as we move into the future, to provide better opportunities for the people of Tuggeranong to reside in probably some of the nicest landscapes you could imagine.
WorkSafe ACT—investigation
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations. Minister, on 16 February you made a statement in this place detailing an answer to a question asked without notice in relation to a recent WorkSafe ACT investigation. You said:
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