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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1628 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

The reality is that the government will continue to closely and seriously address the issues raised by the AIS and the Australian Sports Commission. We are undertaking an extensive range of engineering, noise, air quality and environmental studies to fully understand the impact of the alignment and to make sure that the issues raised by the AIS are appropriately and responsibly addressed. Until that data is available, until those studies are complete, it is pre-emptive of the Australian Sports Commission to state the view that Mr Bartels stated in the paper this morning.

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, can you tell the Assembly what the government has done, and agreed to do, to endeavour to work cooperatively in addressing the concerns raised by the Australian Sports Commission in relation to the western alignment of the Gungahlin Drive extension?

MR CORBELL: The government will continue to deal with the commission in good faith. We are still intending to conduct a joint research study into the possible impact the road will have on athletes training environments, which is one of the key issues that have been raised by the Australian Sports Commission. This has been made very clear to the Sports Commission and they have been directly involved in assisting in finalising the terms of reference and the appropriate people to undertake that study.

The Australian Sports Commission has, however, raised a number of concerns which are based on assumptions which are incorrect. They are incorrect because they are not based on any clear and definitive information which is needed to make an informed comment. Meetings have been held throughout this year with Australian Sports Commission representatives to discuss their concerns. The government and the ASC have agreed to work together on a study, which I have just alluded to, and, as a result, the government is considering design options to address the identified needs of the institute. This is a reasonable approach by the government. We are at every stage seeking to address these concerns and do so in a responsible way. It is irresponsible of the Australian Sports Commission to have a predetermined view on the outcome of those studies when they have not yet been completed.

Land development

MR CORNWELL: My question, which is also to Mr Corbell as Minister for Planning, refers to recent advertisements-perhaps famous advertisements-in the Canberra Times placed by the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association. Minister, isn't the MBA/HIA correct when it says that the cost of the government re-entering land development will see a substantial drain on the ACT budget for the next three years? Were you not briefed when Labor assumed government that the cost of government re-entering the land servicing business would cost between $75 million and $150 million over the first three years?

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, before you go to the question, the second part of the question has been asked, I think by Mrs Dunne, and answered at some time in the past. So you can address yourself to the first part of the question, but if you feel in a relaxed mood, you can remind members about your position on the second part.

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