Page 2792 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 September 1994
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MR WOOD: Mr Acting Speaker, I thank Ms Szuty for her question. It is my understanding, by way of introduction, that the lease for Fassifern, all this time, has had no withdrawal clause; hence the need to go into these protracted negotiations to finish up with a fair deal - fair to the lessee and fair to the people of the ACT in that in acquiring a property we are not giving away more money than we ought to. Ms Szuty had a briefing from officers of my department. I am not even sure which officers they were, or what section they came from. It would appear that they were unaware of this case and did not raise it with her. She has asked me to get details as to whether they knew about it and what similar cases exist, and I will inform her. I would think that at that time they may have been acting on the assumption that all rural leases had withdrawal clauses - although this was well known at that time because this has been a quite protracted dispute - and it may be that on that ground they gave the answer to Ms Szuty that they did. I will undertake to get more detail and see whether there are, to our knowledge, any other similar leases that might be affected in the future.
Tree Removal - Belconnen
MR STEFANIAK: My question is directed to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr Lamont. Is the Minister aware that last week a number of apparently healthy trees and large shrubs were cut down on Southern Cross Drive approximately 400 metres west of the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Coulter Drive, and that some more trees had been cut down a further 200 metres west along Southern Cross Drive? Can the Minister explain why those trees were cut down, leaving a very open and bare median strip that is somewhat aesthetically unpleasing?
MR LAMONT: The answer to all three questions is no. Mr Stefaniak, the responsibility for this matter rests with my colleague Mr Wood. He may have a different answer.
Mr Stefaniak: I am not too sure that it does, Deputy Chief Minister. I checked that one out and you, apparently, I am told, are responsible for median strips and not nature strips. Mr Wood is responsible for nature strips and you are responsible for median strips. I checked with your department.
MR WOOD: Mr Acting Speaker, I am prepared to concede that there might be a demarcation issue here. I can indicate to Mr Stefaniak that, between Mr Lamont and me, we will get back with a definitive answer to him. I might point out that people in the service of the parks and conservation branch are frequently lopping trees and, from time to time, removing trees. They do so, as I understand it, when trees are diseased or when they are unsafe for some reason. Perhaps, if they are lower shrubs, they present a visual problem at a corner. I have always found that there is a very sound reason for their removal, but I will apprise you of the reason in this case.
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