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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4448 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

safety work at Stuart and Kanangra courts. In question time, I detailed the careful processes needed to attend to the major aspects of that upgrade. It is the case that we were not able to spend that money in a short period, but we could commence the planning and we could send out the message that we were switched on to this matter.

We are continuing, as of this time, with the works at Stuart and Kanangra courts. Fire safety audit reports on the recommended scope of works at the following complexes will be completed, including anticipated costs: Allawah and Bega courts, Strathgordon Court, Malahide Gardens, Dryaaba Court, Boollimbah and Ambara courts, Jerilderie, Illawarra and Condamine courts, Ainslie, Braddon and Reid flats, Corryton Gardens and Griffith Flats. You can see the extent of the work that we have to attend to.

For properties such as Stuart and Kanangra courts, a certifier or the fire brigade will be engaged to review and confirm the full scope of the work to be done, leading to the issuing of a certificate of regularisation. That certificate will demonstrate to the Assembly, the community and, importantly, to the tenants that the works are adequate to provide the improved protection sought.

In January of next year we will obtain the services of a certifier or the fire brigade to review and confirm the full proposed scope of the works at the properties where the December audits have been received, as I have mentioned. The works to be implemented will then be agreed and total facility managers instructed accordingly. In February of next year-all of this has been planned over a long period-the total facility managers will need to engage consultants to fully document the more complex works to enable them to go to tender.

The simpler works, such as at Ambara Court, will proceed straight to tender, if required, or simply undertaken. By March 2003, the implementation of simpler works will continue, as well as the documentation of more complex works. Further audits of the smaller multiunit sites will commence. In April, documentation of the more complex works will continue and the simpler works will be completed. You can see in all this that there is a very careful program. You can see from this list of activity which I do not have the time to complete that the government is responding as necessary to the issue of fire safety.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The minister's time has expired. The time for the discussion has also expired.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Affairs and Minister for Women): I table a letter from Mr Thompson to Mr Ronaldson outlining exactly how urgent this matter was and some of the circumstances, and a legal opinion. I present the following papers:

ACT Housing-Compliance with BCA Fire Standards-

Copies of correspondence from:

Chief Executive, Urban Services to Under Treasurer, Department of Treasury, dated 30 May 2002.

Under Treasurer, Department of Treasury to Chief Executive, Department of Urban Services, dated 4 June 2002.

Copy of legal opinion from ACT Government Solicitor, to Mr Alan Franklin, Housing, Policy and Planning, Department of Urban Services, dated 23 May 2002.

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