Page 2088 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 June 2005
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not so. I reject that. I am concerned that waste facilities operate at the optimum to achieve the NOWaste strategy.
I am still receiving advice about this particular estate. I am not fully committed to an action on this. But I am not convinced, at this stage of the game, that the activities that go on in that estate contribute to the NOWaste strategy.
MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, will you be trying to “weed out” larger businesses, such as the mini-mix operation run by Boral, which is not a recycling business, or are you just going after the smaller father and son businesses?
MR HARGREAVES: These either/or questions are really priceless. The Parkwood Road recycling estate is part of the old—
Mr Smyth: Good! Answer it.
MR HARGREAVES: I will tell you this because you are clearly using these people’s emotions for your own purposes and it is wrong. The Parkwood Road recycling estate is part of the old West Belconnen landfill site. The estate is intended to provide land for small and sunrise recycling businesses—I repeat: “recycling businesses”. There are currently 37 licence holders, tenants. Nine tenants use their blocks for waste management, and 28 are engaged in semi-industrial activities. Some of the tenants have occupied the blocks since before ACT NOWaste assumed responsibility for the estate.
Since taking on the responsibility of the estate, ACT NOWaste has undertaken a number of improvements, including new fencing, roads, water supply and drainage. Current improvements in 2004-05 include provisions for a central toilet facility, individual metering of water for blocks, increased security patrols and increased maintenance of roads.
The agreed terms of current licences include a provision for an independent valuation of the blocks to be conducted every two years to ensure that appropriate market rents are charged. Accordingly, ACT NOWaste has had the Australian Valuation Office undertake a valuation of the blocks and rents. The rents were subsequently adjusted accordingly over four quarters. Tenants have raised concerns about the level of rate increase, as is their right. ACT NOWaste has responded to this by providing the AVO advice to tenants and commissioning a separate valuation as a check.
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Under standing order 117, the answer must relate to the question. My question was: is he trying to weed out the mini-mix operator, who is not a recycler; I am getting a general history of the Parkwood estate. I asked a specific question about the mini-mix recycler.
MR HARGREAVES: No, you did not.
Mrs Dunne: Yes I did.
MR HARGREAVES: No you didn’t.
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