Page 2177 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND PLANNING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 1283

Fairbairn Park - New Track

Mr Moore - asked the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning -

(1) Has construction of the new track at the Fairbairn Park site been approved.

(2) If not, what action do you propose to take for the unapproved construction.

(3) If so, (a) who approved it; (b) was an environmental impact assessment done and (c)

why were the nearby residents not consulted in the course of the assessment.

(4) How does the construction of this new track reconcile with your undertaking to close

down the Fairbairn site by early 1995.

(5) Is the Minister's Department aware that this new track is approximately 100 metres

closer to the nearby houses than the old one.

(6) How is the construction of a new track for use by cross country bikes easily

accessible from a public road, to be reconciled with the Government's repeated

undertakings to control the times and conditions of use of all tracks on the site.

(7) What action does the Minister propose to take as a result of Environmental

Protection Section's measurement showing that noise from racing on this track on 17

April generated noise in excess of the exemption granted.

Mr Wood - the answer to the Member's question is as follows:

(1) Under the lease, approval is not required for works of this nature. There is however a

requirement for design and siting approval and the need under the Land (Planning and

Environment) Act 1991 for a preliminary assessment.

(2) I have directed officers in my Department to contact the Council and advise them of

the requirements for approval that the works entail.

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