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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1932 ..

MR QUINLAN: I also seek leave to make a very short statement.

Leave granted.

MR QUINLAN: Members will observe as they read this bill that it relates to uniform payroll tax legislation which is recommended by the sometimes infamous Cole royal commission in relation to joint and several liability for payroll tax.

Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.

Gungahlin Drive Extension Authorisation Bill 2004

Mr Wood, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MR WOOD (Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Minister for Arts and Heritage) (11.16): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Gungahlin Drive Extension Authorisation Bill is intended to ensure that this crucial link in Canberra’s transport network is constructed as soon as possible, and without constant legal challenges, so that the residents of the growing Gungahlin area have appropriate levels of access to other parts of the city.

The project responds to the needs of Gungahlin’s growing population to meet over time the transport requirements of a population of up to 100,000. The nine kilometre road will link the Barton Highway at Gungahlin Drive with the Tuggeranong Parkway at the Glenloch interchange. The GDE will provide a transportation route that integrates with its environment and provides an attractive driving experience with easy accessibility. The design is the result of extensive community consultation as well as numerous planning and detailed environmental studies. As a result of this consultation a number of significant changes have been made to the design, including reducing the impact on Bruce and O’Connor Ridge and improving the landscaping plan by planting two native trees for every larger tree removed.

Consultation with representatives of the local indigenous community has been undertaken, including on-site inspections of known and potential heritage sites. The design has also taken into account factors such as facilitating the movement of native animals between Black Mountain and Aranda bushland and extensive noise abatement measures. Despite all this work, the government’s efforts to construct this road have been frustrated by a series of legal challenges designed only to disrupt the project. This bill includes provisions to minimise such disruptions in the future including an authorisation for the construction of the project.

The bill provides for the minister to issue any future approvals required for the project. Should the minister give an approval that has been made previously by the relevant

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