Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1852 ..

The 'Utility Hardship Intervention Project' is a pilot project that involves approximately 20 low-income households in the ACT. The project is currently underway using the name Water and Energy Savings Trial (WEST). The project will address electricity, gas and water consumption issues and the problem of accumulating utility debt by a co-ordinated intervention involving

an energy and water audit of the participant households and the preparation of a report that describes the energy and water efficiency status of the households and identifies simple, low-cost ways to reduce consumption;

discussing the report with the participant and agreeing on remedial measures including refit work, debt alleviation and education about appliances;

undertaking low-cost refit work to improve energy and water efficiency of the dwellings;

assisting households to understand the cost implications of their water and energy consumption patterns and if possible to change some of those patterns; and

addressing the utility debt already accrued by the households by a combination of debt reduction, reduction in current and future consumption costs and affordable payment arrangements.

The desired outcomes of the Pilot Project are:

to achieve a significant reduction in the utility hardship faced by all the participating households;

to reduce the medium-term and long term utility consumption costs for many of the households; and

an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the intervention and the possibility of large-scale replication of the program throughout the ACT.

The project outline provides an allowance of $6,000 for the employment of a casual/part-time project officer to oversee this project.

Civic merry-go-round

(Question No 677)

Ms Dundas

In regard to the Civic Merry Go Round:

What is the operating cost of the Merry Go Round to the ACT Government;

Is the operation entirely outsourced;

Who keeps the fares of the ride;

What percentage of the operating cost is met by the fares;

Is the Merry Go Round insured by the ACT Government;

What is the insured value of the Merry Go Round.

Mr Wood: The answer to the member's questions is as follows:

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .