Page 1106 - Week 06 - Thursday, 27 July 1989
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that several of the speakers in the debate this afternoon on the budget indicated their agreement to that course of action.
The proposed new capital works in the budget statement are very extensive, Mr Speaker. They range from some relatively small proposals, such as putting emergency telephones on the Tuggeranong Parkway, to some quite major proposals, like the new nurse education building at Bruce and some very big items concerning street lighting, new buildings, new gymnasiums, and so on, a very great range of items. But I would like to draw the attention of members to the fact that there are included in the program the following projects that do need to proceed before the committee will have time to report.
Those projects are, firstly, the Theodore Primary School and Preschool. The opening of this school is planned for the beginning of the 1991 school year. The second is the new automotive painting and panel beating workshops at Fyshwick, a TAFE project. The opening of the workshops is planned for the beginning of the 1991 academic year also. The third is the Fyshwick works depot, stage 1. The establishment of the ACT Government required the split up of the existing Fyshwick works depot between the Australian Construction Services and our transport and works division. They are currently joint occupants of the site. The ACS has requested that transport and works be clear of the ACS area by June 1990. The fourth is the Royal Canberra Hospital and the upgrading of fire penetrations. The existing firewalls have many service ducts and pipes that pass through them. The fire brigade has advised that the packing material around these is below current fire rating standard and should be replaced as a matter of urgency. As fire protection will be part of the accreditation inspection in December 1989, it is necessary that an early start be made on the work if the hospital is to maintain its present rating. Finally, there is the Greenway fire station. Development of the Tuggeranong town centre dictates that a new fire station is required at the earliest possible time.
Mr Speaker, to delay proceeding with these projects until the committee has reported would result in unacceptable delays in finalising essential projects. To keep the program moving, associated design work will continue on all projects and, to limit any adverse impact on ACT employment, the small projects up to $1m will be committed to construction in the normal course once design is completed. A report is sought by 31 August 1989 so that the committee's report is available to assist the Assembly's deliberations on the 1989-90 budget which I shall be presenting in September.
Mr Speaker, I commend this reference to the Assembly. I believe that, as we now have a delay on the Kingston foreshores reference, it should be possible for the committee to undertake its review of this capital works program.
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