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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1495 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Out of this process, Mr Speaker - and a detailed process it is, and one that is going very well to date - I am very confident that realistic options can be put to tenants, and perhaps others who have the lifestyle option of living in the area. Our proposals would need community backing, Mr Speaker. A lot of work needs to be done, and a lot of work will be done. I think ACT Housing is doing a very good job in relation to this, and Ms Reilly, who has had extensive briefings on the matter, I think, should appreciate that.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, my question is to Mr Humphries as Minister for the Environment. Mr Humphries, your colleague Mr Stefaniak, the Minister for Sport, announced yesterday that the Government has decided to bring ACT's noise control laws into line with those of New South Wales, in one respect at least. Is it correct to say that you, as Minister for the Environment, will bring about a reduction in the overall protection from noise limit from five decibels above background to 10 decibels above background? Will this environmental vandalism be achieved through legislation or subordinate legislation, or some other method?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, to answer the last part of that question first, the Assembly now has before it the environment protection package. The Government, as always, will put things before the Assembly in a forthright and fair manner, for members to comment on. It will be possible for members to consider that legislation when it is put to the Assembly.

We realise that there is a trade-off here between issues concerning the environment and issues concerning the activity of an important sport in the ACT. Nice as it would be to be able to reflect a five-decibel limit in that part of the ACT where motor sport is taking place, we have to acknowledge also that in doing so we would be effectively saying that motor sport in the ACT can disappear. There is a choice between having motor sport in the ACT, and it has to be at Fairbairn Park, or maintaining the noise levels as they stand at the moment. The Government has decided that a different regime should be put in place in order to ensure that an important sporting activity remains a part of the ACT sports scene.

I also point out that the noise level being applied in the case of Fairbairn Park is the same noise level that would be applied if Fairbairn Park were in New South Wales. The noise limit for motor sport activities is 10 decibels above background noise for established parks.

Mr Moore: What about the new racetracks in New South Wales? What about his new racetrack?

Mr Stefaniak: It is not a new racetrack, Michael. They have been there for 20 years.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

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