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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 13 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 4108 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Business Case guidelines have been strengthened in the recent years to identify risks of delays in project delivery. Government's capital works program every year includes a forward design program. Feasibility studies have been included in the program since 1996-97.

Mr Speaker, the Government intends to place greater emphasis on up front planning, in particular, the forward design phase of project development, and encouraging greater use of forward design as a planning mechanism on larger value projects.

Presently, not all projects go through a distinct forward design phase, and in most cases, forward design is undertaken in the year, and as part of the project delivery. The funding of forward design as a separate stage to construction, and conducted in a separate financial year, should ensure that construction could commence as early as possible in the year of approval.

This approach provides a 'supplementary program' on the shelf, which can be accessed during the year to bring a project forward or substitute delayed projects.

The Government has previously provided the forward year's indicative program to the Urban Services Committee. The supplementary program will be drawn from the forward intentions, of which the respective Portfolio Committees will be aware.

Mr Speaker, it important that these measures are not seen as maintaining expenditure for the sake of expenditure. It is also important to remember that the effectiveness of the Government's capital works expenditure as a means of generating general economic activity is limited.

Government's budget-funded capital works program in general comprises a small proportion of the total construction expenditure in the ACT.

Mr Speaker, the program is primarily aimed to deliver its key policy priorities, and to assist agencies in service provision to the community.

It is to create the right environment and economic opportunities for the future, and to maximise the benefits to the community.

Mr Speaker, any substitutions or additions to the program in the face of delays in projects should be in that context.

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