Page 2107 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
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MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, how will the next sales process for the Northbourne flats sites, or in fact anywhere else, be changed so that high quality developments are ruled in, not ruled out?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: It is certainly not the case that high quality development here was ruled out. The Suburban Land Agency and the City Renewal Authority, who jointly managed this process, are working through the lessons learnt from this process and the lessons learnt from the sales of the other sites in Griffith and Narrabundah, which both also have a requirement for good design and good urban renewal outcomes but had a different sales process involved.
There will be a conversation between the CRA, SLA and relevant ministers around how we take that process forward. Those conversations have just started. But we will certainly not be sacrificing good design in the urban renewal corridor, in the Northbourne Avenue corridor; it is absolutely imperative. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the renewal of the Northbourne corridor. Getting a good quality development and good urban design outcomes are absolutely a priority for the government in that space.
Public housing—relocations
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, I refer again to the public housing complex transfers raised in the question from the opposition leader. In his question the opposition leader suggested that these transfers were being made because of extreme violence and criminal and antisocial behaviour. Is his characterisation consistent with your assessment of the reasons for providing transfers for multiple residents at one time? If not, what are the reasons?
MS BERRY: Transfers occur in a number of situations, including housing not meeting the needs of a particular group that live in a particular area. There are probably a number of reasons why tenants have asked for transfers, which include concerns around safety or feelings of safety within a particular place. In this circumstance the accommodation may not have been suitable for more reasons than just the reasons that have been identified by the opposition leader today.
MR PARTON: How many residents in the complex reported or complained about illicit drug dealing or being threatened by other residents in possession of lethal and illegal weapons?
MS BERRY: I am aware of concerns raised by members of the community, in particular, and some tenants, but I am not aware of the actual number. Given the questions that have been asked today about the numbers of tenants that the opposition have asked me to confirm around transfers, I will need to check that number and bring it back to the Assembly if it is available. I am also mindful of not wanting to identify any individuals. I will check and get some advice on what information I can disclose safely; then I will provide that, if that is the best way to go forward.
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