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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1498 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

You might be unaware, or maybe you are aware, that it started in the dying days of the Follett Government. A detailed assessment was made of a likely future motor sports site throughout the ACT and about five sites were looked at. All but one were rejected for environmental and/or cost reasons. The other one, somewhere around Majura, could be suitable for motor sport on environmental grounds but would involve significant costs, running, I am advised, into well over $10m. That certainly is not feasible for government or for the motor sport community.

Motor sports in Canberra have used Fairbairn Park, as my colleague Mr Humphries said earlier, for over 20 years. They have been operating on short-term leases. Again you are quite right. If my memory serves me correctly, they were basically quarterly leases. This Government has decided, after exhaustive investigations - some three environmental reports by various people, including renowned sound expert Louis Challis, over the years, and also this exhaustive survey of alternative sites conducted by the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing since late 1994 - that the most desirable, sensible and cost-effective permanent home is at Fairbairn Park.

You are well aware, probably from my statements, statements by Mr Humphries and also statements by the Chief Minister, that we have a great window of opportunity here now not only to ensure a permanent home for motor sport but also to use, after all the recyclables have been taken out, the spoil from Royal Canberra Hospital and the dirt from Bruce Stadium to construct noise abatement measures and beautification of the area.

Ms Horodny: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question is this: How can you make this announcement about creating a permanent site there when the preliminary assessment has not been done? Could you please answer that question?

MR STEFANIAK: I do not think that is a point of order. The Government can indicate what its policy is and what its desire is, Mr Speaker. The Government has always maintained that due process would follow here. Do you want motor sport to disappear, Ms Horodny? Maybe you do.

The Government announced three matters in that press release of mine yesterday. The first was a long-awaited permanent home for motor sports. It is not as if they have not been there, Ms Horodny. They have been there for over 20 years. We are just trying to give them a proper legal basis. Secondly, we announced improvements to the area which will benefit the surrounding residents of Oaks Estate and of New South Wales. Thirdly, the same noise level that applies in New South Wales will apply at Fairbairn Park, and that is 10 decibels above background noise. I think, all in all, it is a very good three-point package which will benefit Canberra and the region, and give many citizens in Canberra, especially a lot of young citizens in Canberra and the region, including a lot of people from Queanbeyan too, I understand, security of usage of a very important sporting and recreational facility.

MS HORODNY: I have a supplementary question. So it seems the whole consultation process is a sham yet again, Mr Stefaniak.

MR SPEAKER: That is a preamble.

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