Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 4 Hansard (18 April) . . Page.. 1055 ..

MR OSBORNE (11.38): I would like to make a few quick comments about this report and some of the Government's priority list mentioned in the report. I would like to congratulate Mr Moore and his committee on a very thorough report. One item I would particularly like to see dealt with quickly is the Erindale Leisure Centre. Mr Speaker, this centre is one of the major features at the Erindale shops, and it would seem to me to be vital to the future of that area. The one and only reason why this centre has become a bit run down is that not enough money has been allowed to be used to maintain it properly.

Mr Moore: No, it is more than that.

MR OSBORNE: It is more than that, Mr Moore says. It seemed to me to be pretty logical when building a multimillion-dollar facility to budget enough for repairs and maintenance, but I am prepared to concede that there may be other factors.

Mr Speaker, I am more than happy to agree with the committee's recommendations regarding the management problems of the leisure centre. Perhaps that is one of the big reasons for it being in the state it is in. I agree that that needs to be sorted out before the refurbishment takes place. I would urge Mr Stefaniak to speed that process up, given the state of youth facilities in the valley at the moment with the problems at the Erindale and Tuggeranong youth centres. Mr Speaker, the report quotes this statement:

... over the 16 odd years that the Erindale Leisure Centre has been in operation, I think enough money has not been put aside for repairs and maintenance, and over time it eventually catches you up.

I will not read the rest of it, but the report basically says that if it were a private company the Erindale Leisure Centre would more than likely be in the hands of receivers. Mr Speaker, given that standard, where would that leave the Australian International Hotel School? If the Minister applied the same commitment to the leisure centre as he has to the hotel school, which has gone through $28m in the last two years, the Erindale Leisure Centre would be safe for another 40-odd years, but I do not think that will happen.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77 and resumption of the debate is made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .