Page 5438 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 16 November 2010
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service should be receiving a quality service and we will review and investigate, to the extent that we need to, to have assurance that that is indeed the case.
Schools—Throsby Catholic school
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Minister, we have recently received representations from the Gungahlin community regarding the time frame for the prospective opening of a Catholic secondary school in Throsby. They are interested in gaining a clearer understanding of the government’s time frame in relation to the development of the suburb, which is critical for the planned opening of the school in 2013. Minister, what is the time frame in relation to the development of the suburb?
MR BARR: I think Mr Doszpot actually should have asked that of me as Minister for Planning. There are a number of statements I can make in relation to this particular school. Firstly, I very strongly support the establishment of a Catholic high school in Gungahlin and have indicated that to the Catholic education office. I understand that the site that the Catholic education office is looking at is in the suburb of Throsby and that the development of that suburb is, of course, subject to the usual environmental assessments. So the process in terms of a time frame for the development of that suburb actually sits outside my portfolios.
I understand the Chief Minister has responded to the Catholic education office in relation to the specifics of the timing of that estate development, as that is not something that is within my portfolio responsibilities. But I can advise the member and the Assembly that, as minister for education, I am very supportive of the establishment of such a school. The planning work is complete. However, it then passes on to the estate development and land development area of government. So that is not within my portfolio responsibilities in either planning or education.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Doszpot?
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, can the government assure the Gungahlin community that the school will be able to commence classes by January 2013?
MR BARR: I cannot, because I am not building the school. Subject to the successful completion of the environmental work that is required before the suburb of Throsby is able to commence development, then, yes, I believe it is certainly very feasible for that school to be operational by then. I will be working with the Catholic education office in terms of the registration aspects of the school. The question of whether the suburb itself is ready is a matter that will be determined once the appropriate environmental processes are concluded.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, when does the government anticipate that these environmental and other approvals will be completed?
MR BARR: Again, I am not running that process. I can seek some advice and provide the member with that information.
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