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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Thursday, 4 March 2004) . . Page.. 814 ..

Control Centre—something quite different—that was in contact with ACT Housing. The Emergency Control Centre reported that residents were in the process of being alerted and later of being evacuated. I should not rely on my memory so much. I am aware of the comment in the McLeod report at page 281 about forestry settlements. It states:

Efforts were made by police to advise residents to evacuate on the morning of 18 January but this advice did not reach everyone.

ACTION bus service

MR CORBELL: In question time today, Mr Cornwell asked me a question about bus drivers taking their children on the bus while on duty. I can been provide the following in answer to Mr Cornwell and members:

ACTION policy clearly does not allow for any drivers to mind their children on their shifts. I am advised now that on Tuesday, 2 March this year on radio station 2CC it was reported that an ACTION female bus driver had taken her two children on a shift. This particular driver has been identified and has been requested to cease this practice and make appropriate childcare arrangements.

The driver has been offered in the short term another shift to accommodate her situation and to avoid this circumstance occurring again. ACTION responds immediately when they become aware of such an instance. ACTION is working with employees towards a more family friendly workplace; however, bringing children to work is clearly a safety issue.

Bonner concept plan

MR CORBELL: Also in question time today, Ms Tucker asked me a question about the Bonner information session and concept plan. I can advise Ms Tucker that this is the second public information night tonight, from 4 pm to 8 pm, on the Bonner information session concept plan. Concept plan options have now been prepared, together with maps, that show all constraints and opportunities for development. A preferred option of the concept plan—option 3—has been prepared, but this is for discussion purposes only and will need some further refinement. The fire threat to the estate, which Ms Tucker asked me about in question time today, is discussed in this draft work and will be subject to a separate and independent fire threat assessment to finetune the physical treatment on the urban edge.

The assessment will incorporate any criteria applicable following from recent reviews into the urban edge. The current preferred option proposes significant links of edge road, approximately 90 to 95 per cent, interfacing with the Canberra Nature Park. Particular attention has been given to avoid areas of high conservation value in the design of this estate. Copies of the government media release regarding cats in Forde and Bonner will be available to members of the public at tonight’s public meeting. A separate briefing is to be made available to the Conservation Council of the South East Region at the next working group meeting which will be held in about a month. A copy of the material that will be made available at the information session I have with me and I am happy to make it available for the information of members.

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