Page 373 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 December 2008
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There also have been concerns raised in relation to the ability of the ACT to adequately assess climate change impacts. I would also hope that, with the formation of the new climate change department, we develop guidelines and expertise in the ACT to assess climate change impacts and developments.
In conclusion, the Greens will support this bill today. However, we would like to ensure that this flawed process will never happen again, that the Auditor-General’s recommendations are applied, that the HIA recommendations are taken into account and applied and that there is ongoing monitoring of data on 2.4-particulate pollution. I also advise that we will be supporting the opposition’s amendment regarding clause 9.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (4.44): Almost eight months ago, I proposed to this place that the proposed data centre and power station be moved and I tabled in this place legislation to enable that to happen. And the purpose of that was to end the angst and the destruction of a community that has consequently suffered for almost eight months because of the arrogance of our Chief Minister. This could have happened in May.
But we are here today. I am pleased we are here today and I am pleased that sense has been seen and I am pleased that our process is being followed, but we could have saved a community and a lot of households a lot of angst because the government followed flawed processes. And there is still some angst out in the community, particularly against the definition of a communications facility and particularly about the lack of clarity as to what will the size of the power station on this site be.
I would ask the Chief Minister whether he would, when he finishes, give the community his assurance that it will not be any larger than the 28 megawatts dictated in the current DA. The community is very concerned, Chief Minister, and I know you want to address those concerns. So I look forward to hearing from you your assurance that nothing bigger than that which is currently proposed will be allowed on this site. It still causes an immense amount of concern. The other area of concern which will be addressed by the removal of clause 9 is, indeed, the definition of communications facility.
It is interesting, Mr Speaker, that a number of us this morning—and you are at the top of the list: Shane Rattenbury, Meredith Hunter, Le Couteur, Bresnan, Coe, Dunne, Hanson, Doszpot and Smyth—received an email from the president of the Gungahlin Community Council. The Chief Minister has tried to portray this as a localised problem, a bunch of NIMBYs trying to protect their house values. He has not been able to make that case because it is simply not true. But here we have an email which a number of members of the opposition and the crossbench have received which clearly points out the concerns. Its subject is:
URGENT: Data centre enabling legislation problem…I understand you are to debate legislation to enable the relocation of the Data Centre to Hume, and that this legislation includes a number of auxiliary provisions including:
9 Use of land—To remove any doubt, a data centre and gas powered co-generation facility is a communication facility.
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