Page 4732 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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administrative responsibility for some aspects of housing, namely housing affordability. So, that is the simple answer, Mrs Dunne. Have a look at the administrative arrangements order, read it, and try to understand it.
Cotter Dam—cost
MR COE: My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, Actew’s managing director says the target out-turn cost of the enlarged Cotter Dam will be $299 million. According to the report of the independent review undertaken by Deloitte, the independent estimator says it will be $312.6 million. The Deloitte report notes that the TOC 2 is $310.9 million. Abigroup, one of the alliance partners, in a media release dated 23 September 2009, says it will be $262 million. Treasurer, which target out-turn cost is the right one and why are the others wrong?
MS GALLAGHER: As I understand it, it is the $299 million figure. The Deloitte review did include a cost of $311 million, but I understand that, in the final working through of the costs, that was revised to $299 million. Of course, the additional costs between $299 million and $363 million are to pay for a range of other things—mainly environmental costs, fish habitat and things like that. So the figure is $299 million.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe, a supplementary?
MR COE: Treasurer, how can the people of Canberra be confident about the cost forecast for the Cotter Dam when none of the players are singing from the same song sheet?
MS GALLAGHER: I think they are. The final cost, as outlined, is $363 million. That is the figure that has been given as the final figure for the enlarged Cotter Dam. The alliance partners have entered into contracts around those costs and the government has been given assurances repeatedly, and other members of this place have, that the dam will be built for the figure of $363 million unless it comes in under. I think we have heard Mark Sullivan give those commitments to the people of the ACT. I think the people of the ACT want us to build this dam, get on with it and make sure that we have a secure water supply for the future of this city.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary question?
MRS DUNNE: Thank you. Treasurer, if Deloitte has told us that TOC 2 was $310.9 million, why did Mr Sullivan announce it publicly as $299 million?
MS GALLAGHER: That has been answered. There were some final discussions around the final cost. That final cost is $299 million. May I suggest that these questions could have been put to Actew in their briefing with Liberal members—which I understand was not well prepared for by the Liberal opposition, but that is something that we have grown accustomed to in this place. You have had your opportunity. You have obviously missed the opportunity. I am sure that Actew would be able to come back and provide a second briefing to cover those areas that the Liberals have been unable to grasp.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary question?
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