Page 1027 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007
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addressed, for example, where a development application is lodged for unapproved work and is subsequently approved.
(3) No building files have compliance tags. There is no record kept of the total number of compliance flags in place at any one time.
(4) No.
Environment—alternative energy sources
(Question No 1499)
Dr Foskey asked the Minister for Business and Economic Development, upon notice, on 28 February 2007:
(1) Has the ACT Government given thought to expanding our fantastic capacity to research alternative energy sources and providing incentives for the establishment of production facilities;
(2) Have any studies been conducted on the potential to develop this industry;
(3) Have any businesses working in this area approached the Government for support; if so, which businesses and what was the result.
Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) A cash incentives approach to business attraction has not been the policy direction of my Government, and so there are no specific ACT Government business programs that provide direct incentives to establish manufacturing production facilities for the alternative energy production sector in the ACT.
However, the ACT Government does recognise the significant research activity undertaken in Canberra into renewable energy, in particular at the ANU's Centre for Renewable Energy research. CSIRO's renewable energy research program is also significant, albeit most of that research effort is conducted in CSIRO facilities outside the ACT.
The ACT Government is a funding partner in ANU Connect Ventures, a fund that invests in the commercialisation of Canberra-based research and IP. ACT-based commercialisation project opportunities can access this fund and I understand that early discussions are currently taking place between ANU Connect Ventures and one of Canberra’s renewable energy companies.
(2) I am not aware of any studies funded by the ACT Government into the development of a renewable energy industry in the ACT.
However, there are significant funding sources for renewable energy research and commercialisation available through Australian Government programs such as the Renewable Energy Equity Fund (REEF) and the Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) available through the Department of Industry Tourism and Resources. The Australian Greenhouse Office also provides a range of initiatives supporting alternative energy development under its Climate Change Programs.
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