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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2972 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

cabinet shortly. It is worth pointing out, Mr Speaker, that this is different from the original application made to the previous government. The previous government, the current opposition, should not claim that this is simply the original application still being considered. It is not; it is a new application and it is from a different body.

Southern Cross Homes New South Wales will have to obtain funding for the beds from the Commonwealth. To this end, Southern Cross Homes has been negotiating with the St Vincent de Paul Society about taking over the aged care facility it operates in Campbell. The transferral of these 34 beds, and a subsequent application for a further 31 beds, will have to be considered and approved by the Commonwealth. The transfer of the lease will also have to be approved.

The government has taken steps to ensure that the in-principle direct grant of the land has been addressed so that, when Southern Cross Homes New South Wales goes to the Commonwealth, it can make application for the bed funding it wants with the certainty that the ACT government backs it and is prepared to give it the land it needs.

The Land Development Agency has also been dealing with the operators of the Kankinya Nursing Home in Lyneham regarding the acquisition of land to enable the expansion of the nursing home. It has liaised closely with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing about the matter.

In addition to these immediate proposals, work is also progressing on sites in Belconnen and Greenway that can be developed for the future provision of aged care facilities. There is a site in Belconnen, block 6 section 87, near Lake Ginninderra. The intention is that the site be developed for a mix of aged care facilities, of approximately 100 beds and 150 independent living units.

Despite opposition from the local area planning advisory committee, the government, if Mr Cornwell would care to look, has already placed this land on its land release program for this financial year. The planning study has also been completed for this site and it is proposed that a preliminary assessment commence shortly, again, a requirement of the land act. Depending on the outcome of the preliminary assessment, it is proposed to release the land through a competitive process in the first half of 2004.

The exact timing of the release of this site is contingent on funding being available for the aged care facility component from the Commonwealth. This is important, not only for this site, but for all future sites for aged care facilities. Accordingly, the territory will continue to work closely with the Commonwealth in the funding and announcement of site releases.

Work has also commenced on identifying a site for an aged care facility on part section 46 Greenway, which is on the western side of Athllon Drive near the Tuggeranong Town Centre. The final mix of the facilities is yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated that something similar to that proposed for Belconnen will be developed. Preliminary site investigation work has been carried out and further planning work is required before a decision can be made on whether the site is suitable for an aged care facility. A preliminary assessment and a Territory Plan variation are required, as the existing land use policy does not allow an aged care

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