Page 3858 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS LAWDER: I have a supplementary question. Minister, how is it that two jurisdictions can both make expert assessments and come up with two completely different conclusions?
MR GENTLEMAN: It is the different studies on heritage application of the huts—where that has occurred—and the construction of the huts. The National Parks Association and the huts association have different views on how we should proceed with the heritage application of the huts themselves. As I mentioned, it is a matter of whether we keep the original huts that have been burnt, in their location and monument those, if you like, or whether we build something alongside them, to reflect the important story of those huts.
Government—land purchase
MR CAIN: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, the ACT government now has the power to purchase land in New South Wales to facilitate cross-border developments, such as, for example, Ginninderry and, arguably, elsewhere. When will you tell the community about the governance arrangements for developments in New South Wales? For example, are you planning to deliver services and levy rates? If not, who will?
MS BERRY: Mr Cain may or may not be aware that development in New South Wales, as part of the Ginninderry development, will be some years into the future. The government’s position has been well broadcast; our preference is for the borders to be moved, so that those parts of New South Wales become part of the ACT. That would make things a lot easier for everybody to navigate. Those conversations about that proposal from the ACT government are continuing with New South Wales, Yass council and the federal government.
In the meantime we are also looking at a plan B: should it be the case that we cannot get to that optimal point of moving the border, what are the proposals around land management, services et cetera? As I said the proposed development in Ginninderry land in the New South Wales part of that development is 10 years down the track, so there is a significant amount of time for that planning work to occur, and it has been occurring for some time now.
MR CAIN: Minister, is there a conflict of interest with your Ginninderry joint venture partner owning the land in New South Wales that the government will likely purchase to complete the Ginninderry estate?
MS BERRY: I thank Mr Cain for his interest in this really great development, Ginninderry, in the western suburbs of the ACT. It is a project in which the ACT government is a joint partner, absolutely. We have been incredibly diligent in ensuring that there has been due diligence and transparency around the processes that have been in place for a number of years on the land in New South Wales, as part of the proposed Ginninderry development. All of that transparency in governance is well documented and is available for the public to analyse. I am happy to provide Mr Cain with a briefing on the processes that were conducted in ensuring that there was due diligence, transparency and appropriate governance around that process.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video