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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 11 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 2881 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

The Government, through this program, also recognises the recreational opportunities provided by many community organisations. The Belconnen Dog Obedience Club, the ACT Debating Society, and the leapfrog program for the intellectually disabled have also all received major grants. Other recreation organisations to benefit include the Radio Controlled Car Club, the Hall and District Progress Association, Pedal Power, the ACT Bridge Association, the Canberra Pensioners Club, the Woden Senior Citizens Club, the YMCA, and Pegasus Riding for the Disabled. These grant strategies signify the Government's ongoing commitment to the development of sport and recreation opportunities for Canberra citizens and emphasise the importance of cohesive partnerships as we plan for the future. The integration of well-developed programs and sensibly designed facilities will help to identify Canberra as Australia's true sporting capital.

MR WOOD: My question is directed to Mr De Domenico in his capacity as Minister for Urban Services. In the letters to the editor in today's Canberra Times you state:

... there is no current proposal for Monash Drive being considered by the ACT Government nor, based on current plans, is there a likelihood of such a proposal in the next 10 to 15 years.

Why are you still holding over the heads of North Canberra residents a threat to build this road, when the former Government took action to see that this destructive road would never be built?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Mr Wood for his question. I do not think that I can make it any plainer than to say once again what the letter said. There are currently no proposals to build Monash Drive, and there appear not to be any proposals for the next 10 to 15 years. If I am still the Minister after 15 years and I change my mind, I will let you know.

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. I should indicate to Mr De Domenico that, as Minister and as part of the former Government, we introduced a variation to the Territory Plan - it is now part of the plan - which wiped out the major access from Gungahlin to that proposed Monash Drive. We changed it from a six-lane highway to a buffer zone.

Mr Moore: Unless we change the plan again. You cannot say "forever".

MR WOOD: That is the question I want to ask. Mr Humphries in this chamber has been giving unspecified reasons for rethinking the whole of that North Watson development. Mr De Domenico, are you in collusion with Mr Humphries? Is the return of this to a six-lane highway the reason for his obfuscation on the issue and for your keeping this option open, when it has been excluded from future planning? Why can you not give that assurance, too?

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