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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3617 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

It seems to me that that is a very useful device at the emergency section of the Canberra Hospital to help people understand what is happening around them. We know that sometimes people go in there and wait for up to four hours with, perhaps, a broken finger and do not realise that what has happened is that the emergency section has taken on two burns victims whose handling requires a huge amount of intensive staffing power. Those sorts of things do happen in the emergency section.

We have also taken another step at the emergency section to try to assist with that problem; that is, just recently we opened a low-acuity clinic staffed by general practitioners-a similar one exists at Calvary-so that somebody who comes in with a cut and needs a couple of stiches or has an issue that might be able to be dealt with by a GP can be triaged there. That opened two or three weeks ago.

Gungahlin Drive extension

MR CORBELL: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. Can the minister confirm that he has been advised by the National Capital Authority not to proceed with the gazettal of the variation to the Territory Plan for the Gungahlin Drive extension until the National Capital Plan variation process is complete? Will the minister table a copy of any correspondence he has received from the National Capital Authority on this matter?

MR SMYTH: I am aware that there is some correspondence. I have not seen it. I have asked my staff to get me a copy. As soon as I get it, if it is able to be tabled I will table it.

Mr Corbell: And the first part of the question?

MR SMYTH: As I said, I have not read the correspondence.

MR CORBELL: Minister, is it not the case that to vary the alignment of the Gungahlin Drive extension parallel to the existing Caswell Drive will require a variation not only to the Territory Plan but also to the National Capital Plan? Can you tell the Assembly how long you anticipate this process taking?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, as I have said, we will follow all due process. The process has a length which the opposition is very much aware of. If there is a variation to both the Territory Plan and the National Capital Plan then that would have to be undergone.

Mr Corbell: Does it require a variation to the National Capital Plan?

MR SMYTH: Yes, it is in one of the defined areas on the national plan. Mr Speaker, what I said in my press release yesterday is that we would carry out the studies and then the processes would have to be gone through to achieve the variation. If that includes, and it does, a variation to the national plan, then so be it; the same as the process for the Gungahlin Drive extension has included, or will include or should include a variation to the national plan.

Mr Corbell: How long will it take?

MR SMYTH: As long as it takes. You know the process.

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