Page 3860 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 October 1990
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such as schools, neighbourhood shops and recreational areas. We realise that one of the major inadequacies of the Alliance Government, as far as the environment is concerned, is our failure to maintain the schools as part of a neighbourhood and retain that neighbourhood concept, because that term "environment" includes all aspects of man's surroundings, whether affecting him as an individual or his social groupings. That was a 1974 definition, and we would now drop the word "man" and use the word "people", as is being done through most of our legislation. The point remains valid.
The second area in relation to which I would like to comment, and we have heard it commented on several times today, is the Ainslie Transfer Station closure. It certainly was not a very good beginning, as far as an environmental strategy goes. Certainly I recognise the attempts at Mitchell, but I still believe that the things that are being done at Mitchell could well have been done at Ainslie, and the transfer station role of Ainslie could well have been retained with a positive contribution to our environment continuing.
Mr Berry: How much do they really save?
MR MOORE: Thank you for that interjection, Mr Berry. How much do they really save? I was not going to ask that question until you reminded me.
Mr Duby: $245,000 per annum.
MR MOORE: The figure that Mr Duby interjects, like many figures that have come out of this Government, has been solidly questioned and discredited. The other thing that I think is most significant is that I would like to support the notion that Ms Follett presented on 5 June when she called for an audit on greenhouse gas omissions. I look forward to a response on that issue from the Chief Minister when he closes this debate.
Other areas of environmental strategy, which are covered broadly but not quite so specifically, unless I have missed them, are urban run-off, soil conservation and vegetation, and in-depth forest preservation. I think it is important that management of those areas such as forests be considered, rather than as profit-making ventures, more for their environmental impact. I think that is most significant. We have heard a quite eloquent, very positive contribution, as far as many of those issues go, from Mr Jensen.
The other matters that I had intended to raise would only run over material that other people have presented today. I conclude by saying that generally I applaud the Alliance Government's initiative in issuing this environmental strategy and, with the exception of the few things to which I drew attention, I think the Alliance Government has made
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