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and sporting potential; the nature of heritage and cultural aspects of these areas; the extent to which these aspects should be marketed; the degree of development which may be permitted within or adjacent to the parks to facilitate tourist activity; and any other related matters.

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT - STANDING COMMITTEE

Inquiry into Contaminated Sites

MR MOORE (12.04): Mr Speaker, pursuant to standing order 246A, I make the following statement relating to the committee's inquiry into the adequacy of processes relating to identifying and managing contaminated sites in the ACT. I make this statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. The statement reflects the unanimous view of members. The statement is intended as an interim report to the Assembly about the committee's progress to date in its inquiry into the processes relating to identifying and managing contaminated sites in the ACT and any other related matters.

This was the first inquiry to be initiated by the committee, reflecting the common view of members that the issue of contaminated sites warrants thoughtful attention by a committee of this Assembly. The committee resolved on the inquiry at its third meeting, on 7 April 1995, advertised in the local press for public input and held its first public hearing on Tuesday of last week, 13 June 1995. At the time of the public hearing, the committee had received nine submissions. These were from a number of people affected by contaminated sites in Theodore, from the Belconnen Community Council concerned about contamination from the Belconnen tip, from the ACT Division of the Institute of Valuers calling for public access to a contaminated sites register, from the ACT Division of the Australian Democrats calling for a register and a more efficient process of locating and remediating contaminated sites, and from the Minders of Tuggeranong Homestead concerned about any remediation at Tuggeranong Homestead.

During the course of the public hearing, the committee received further material, which it is treating as submissions. Regrettably, at the time of the public hearing, the committee had not received a submission from the ACT Government, despite the fact that the closing date for submissions was 2 June 1995. The committee considers that a Government submission is imperative and that it should address the issues raised by witnesses at the public hearing. In this regard, Mr Speaker, on Tuesday morning I was informed by the secretary of the committee that a Government submission was received at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning. The secretary is in the process of arranging for it to be circulated to my colleagues on the committee. I thank the Government for its speedy recognition that, for the committee to progress its examination of the contaminated sites issue, a detailed submission was imperative. I must say, Mr Speaker, that I have had a chance to scan that submission, and it is indeed a particularly detailed and extensive submission.

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