Page 1569 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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The sad part is that those opposite have not realised the folly of their ways and just said: “Good on you. You’ve delivered the prison. Now let’s get on and provide proper programs.” I wish they would just do that and stop trying to make political capital out of somebody else’s misery.
Planning—Deakin swimming pool
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning. Given that the Deakin swimming pool has now closed and given the minister’s comments in this chamber last week that the government could do nothing until this happened, what steps has the minister now taken to enforce the requirements of the territory plan and the lease that the pool be operated from that site?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question; it does provide an opportunity to update the Assembly on the process that has occurred since the pool facility closed. I can confirm that the ACT Planning and Land Authority inspected the facility last Friday and have formally now confirmed that the facility is closed. ACTPLA have now been instructed to prepare a breach notice for the owner of the site. The lessee will have six months from the date of service of that notice to rectify the breach. A failure to rectify the breach would ultimately trigger termination of the crown lease.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Given that, can the minister tell the Assembly what alternative arrangements have been made for all of the 1,100 children who were previously enrolled in learn-to-swim classes at Deakin?
MR BARR: Again I thank Ms Le Couteur for the opportunity to update members. The Department of Territory and Municipal Services, through Sport and Recreation Services, has established two primary sources of information for community members seeking placement in alternative learn-to-swim programs. Information is available from Canberra Connect on 132281 and on the Sport and Recreation Services website at www.sport.act.gov.au. There are a number of alternative facilities around the territory that have places available.
In many instances, the engagement of additional instructors is a demand driven exercise so we are certainly encouraging people who were previously accommodated at Deakin to make contact either through Canberra Connect or directly with other learn-to-swim providers. Additional instructors will then be able to be employed to meet that additional demand. There is no doubt that there is considerable pressure in this area. However, I am advised that, through a variety of alternative providers, most particularly through government owned facilities in Civic and Tuggeranong, there are a number of places—up to 700—available at those two facilities and that there are other places available in other learn-to-swim programs around the territory.
Alexander Maconochie Centre
MR HANSON: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Corrections. Minister, the Alexander Maconochie Centre has finally received its first batch of prisoners. Can
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