Page 3237 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 10 November 2021
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MR STEEL: We are currently going through a procurement process for the next stage of light rail. That has some time to go. As part of that process, I am sure that Major Projects Canberra will be making sure that any future light rail vehicles that are procured through CAF or another delivery partner meet the safety standards expected by the government.
Light rail—vehicle fleet
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Minister, it is clear that the Urbos 3 LRV suffers from major manufacturing faults resulting in cracking that have put several public transport systems—in cities such as Birmingham, Belgrade and, most recently, Sydney—out of order for significant period of time. Minister, if a manufacturing fault such as the cracking in the Urbos 3 were to occur in a light rail vehicle owned by the ACT government, what are the warranty arrangements that are in place?
MR STEEL: It is important to note that we have a public-private partnership agreement with Canberra Metro consortium, which is a group of companies that have designed, have constructed, have financed, do operate and do maintain our light rail system on stage 1. That includes, of course, CAF. CAF is responsible for manufacturing and maintaining the LRVs throughout the 20-year period of the PPP. This provides very clear lines of responsibility for any asset issues.
This differs from arrangements that may be in place in other cities around the world. CAF operates, I understand, in around 30 cities around the world. It is a major supplier of LRVs. It would be responsible for making sure that services are available to the community under the contract that we have with the consortium.
MR HANSON: Minister, are you confident that CAF will be able to repair a fault in a rapid time frame and that light rail would return to operations as soon as possible? And what time frame would that be?
MR STEEL: No faults have been identified in the ACT.
MR PARTON: Minister, when will you be upfront with the public about the true cost of these projected problems given the ongoing increases in costs that seem to emerge?
MR STEEL: I refer the member to the answer to the last question.
Environment—invasive plants
MR DAVIS: My question is to the Minister for the Environment: if you have spent any time talking to the constituents in Tuggeranong you will have heard the phrase African lovegrass once or twice I am sure. So I was thrilled to see a $3 million announcement in the most recent budget to tackle invasive weeds, including African lovegrass. Can you provide an update on how specifically African lovegrass will be addressed through this funding commitment?
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