Page 285 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 7 March 2007
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the press conference he anticipates that the ESA relocation could very well come in as slightly under budget, but he has indicated that it certainly is not exceeding budget.
MR PRATT: I ask a supplementary question. Minister, what are the reasons for the delay in the completion of the new headquarters complex for the ESA at Fairbairn?
MR CORBELL: The chief reason for the delay is that, in a number of the buildings the airport has offered to the territory to lease, it has been difficult to determine the exact condition of those buildings. The airport management has been reluctant to provide full building reports on those assets so that we can determine what remedial work needs to be undertaken. In particular, issues such as asbestos and other dangerous goods, dangerous substance removal, are issues we need to fully quantify before a final commitment can be given to lease, let, fit-out and tenant those buildings. So those matters are the subject of continued negotiation between ourselves and the airport. We will seek to resolve those as soon as possible.
Emergency services—FireLink system
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the minister for emergency services and relates to FireLink. During briefings late last week and on Monday about the restructuring of emergency services, someone let it slip to volunteers that the digital data communication project known as FireLink is to be scrapped. Can you confirm that the ESA is going to scrap FireLink?
MR CORBELL: A full analysis has been undertaken of all of the IT projects and communication projects being undertaken by the ESA. That was a piece of work that was undertaken following the incorporation of the ESA into the justice portfolio. A full assessment of all the IT and communication projects was undertaken. That work is being finalised. I am awaiting final advice from the department on the decisions which should flow from that. I am not in a position at this stage to confirm the decision on any of the IT or communication projects until I have received that final advice.
MRS DUNNE: Can the minister tell me when he will be in a position to make that announcement, one way or the other, and what will he be doing to ensure that an adequate operational communication and asset location system is available before the next fire season?
MR CORBELL: No, I am not in a position to advise Mrs Dunne today what the time frame on that will be. In relation to the provision of an adequate and comprehensive communication system, I can advise members, with a high level of confidence, that we have that in place now. The TRN system is working extremely well across most of the territory.
In addition, a repeater is proposed to be installed on Mount Tennant and, potentially, on Mount Clear. That would provide us with the additional coverage we need for the southern areas of the ACT. The provision of a repeater at Mount Tennant is subject to some fairly detailed assessments because there is no power supply to the top of Mount Tennant at this time. Solar power is not adequate to provide the level of power supply needed to maintain a reliable radio network. That means that a detailed environmental
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