Page 1801 - Week 05 - Thursday, 10 May 2018

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


other jurisdictions indicating that a lead time of around five years is required to identify and set up an appropriate processing location. Another recommendation and initiative, one sadly opposed by those opposite, is a container deposit scheme, which will reduce litter and increase recycling. It is set to start in the ACT on 30 June.

The road map also includes recommendations on waste to energy, which is low down the waste hierarchy. I acknowledge that incineration of waste is a contentious issue in the community, and any utilisation of processed engineered fuel, or PEF, would be as a last step on the road map for residual waste. The study has recommended the ACT develop a clear policy on waste to energy that seeks to address community concerns, provides certainty to industry, and establishes a framework for assessing any future proposals. The government looks forward to consulting further on this issue.

MS CODY: Minister, how will community and industry stakeholders be able to have their say on the road map and its recommendations?

MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Cody for the supplementary question. The recommendations in the road map to improved resource recovery require community support and participation to succeed. I encourage the community to visit the your say website to review the road map, make a submission or attend an information session to ask questions. The discussion paper will be on the your say website for a six-week period and ACT NOWaste will host information sessions for community and industry groups.

It is important to note that the study itself was significantly informed by two consultative groups, a community consultative group and an industry consultative group, over the last two years. The opportunity for the community more broadly to contribute will take place over the coming six weeks. A community information session will be held on Wednesday, 30 May at 5.30, and the industry information session will be held on Thursday, 31 May at 8 am. Both will be held at the Griffin Centre in Genge Street, Civic.

This is a very exciting time for our waste industry here in the ACT. It is clear we are leading the way when it comes to addressing the challenges facing the waste sector. We are also very blessed to have a very active recycling community here in Canberra who are keen to do what they can and are very aware of the need to reduce, reuse and recycle to limit our impact on the environment. I am sure Canberrans will have ideas about how we can best implement the recommendations from the waste feasibility study. I invite the community and industry to explore the report recommendations and have their say on how we can better use resources and be less reliant on landfill.

Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders—health services

MR MILLIGAN: My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. Minister, the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service was promised $12 million for a new health and community services facility in 2016. Now, almost two years on from that announcement, what is the status of this project?


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video