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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 3 Hansard (6 March) . . Page.. 646 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Fortnightly, my department advises the relevant unions of all student placements in both the work experience program and the school to industry program. The work experience program is aimed, primarily, at high school students and exposes them to a work environment. The school to industry program provides college students enrolled in vocational courses with the on-the-job component of their learning.

The advice to unions provides them with an opportunity to alert the department to any potential occupational health and safety risks or possible industrial issues. Over the last few years, unions have only rarely felt the need to become involved in this way.

There is also a place for a union representative on the capital region school to industry task force. This group manages the use of Commonwealth funds, provided through the enterprise and career education foundation, to foster structured work placements via the school to industry program.

The unions also have an opportunity to participate in vocational education in the schools program, through their membership of the ACT industry training advisory boards, or ITABs. ITABs provide a conduit between the ACT government and industry for training matters. Finally, there is provision for union representation on both the board of senior secondary studies and the vocational education and training authority.

Gungahlin Drive extension

MR CORBELL: On 21 February this year, Ms Tucker asked me a question about the Gungahlin Drive extension, associated environmental impact assessment and preliminary assessment.

In answer to Ms Tucker's question, in 1997 a preliminary assessment, or PA, was prepared for the proposed John Dedman Parkway, now known as the Gungahlin Drive extension. This PA provided an impact assessment of a number of route alternatives, in four broad corridors, for the Gungahlin Drive extension, including a corridor to the west of the AIS. Although the western alignment was evaluated during the 1997 PA process, the preferred western route is likely to differ in its final alignment to an extent that will warrant the preparation of a further preliminary assessment.

I was asked if I was legally required to have a new preliminary assessment done. Under appendix 11 of the Territory Plan, a mandatory preliminary assessment is required for all proposals for construction of a new major road.

At this stage, a PA has not been formally triggered. Currently, engineering and environmental studies are being undertaken which will form the basis of not preparing the PA. The environmental studies are being undertaken by David Hogg & Associates, environmental consultants.

The objectives of the study are: to complete an evaluation of environmental issues on the western alignment for the Gungahlin Drive extension between the Barton Highway and Belconnen Way/Caswell Drive intersection; to be a reference document for the route selection process; and to be used to prepare a PA under the land act. The work undertaken during this study will be considered and used to inform subsequent

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