Page 1655 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2011
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Questions without notice taken on notice
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—assaults
Ms BURCH (in reply to a supplementary question by Ms Hunter on Wednesday, 9 March 2011): There has been a reduction from three to two MSS Staff rostered on duty each night shift. This is as a direct result of recent recruitment activity. MSS staff are still currently required whilst new staff are fully integrated into the Centre’s roster. I expect the use of MSS staff on night duty to be fully phased out by mid April.
Yes, the Centre now has a full complement of permanent staff.
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—detainees
Ms BURCH (in reply to a supplementary question by Mr Smyth on Thursday, 10 March 2011): I would like to advise Members that $77,242 was spent on energised security and a further $32,708.50 was spent on other security measures relating to the electrification upgrade.
Housing—affordability
Mr STANHOPE (in reply to a supplementary question by Mr Seselja on Thursday, 10 March 2011): Since December 2008, the level of land release in Greenfield and infill areas has boosted building activity in the ACT to historic highs with 8,853 dwellings commenced over this period. On an annual basis the number of dwelling commencements in 2010 was 4,808, the highest level on record. This was 37 per cent higher than 2009 and exactly double the commencements recorded in 2008.
As part of the Government’s accelerated land release program and Affordable Housing Action Plan, a further 17,000 dwelling sites are to be released between 2010/11 and 2013/14 with 20 per cent of sites in new Greenfields estates being made available for affordable housing under $328,000 (in the current year).
The time lag between land release and dwelling completions needs to be appreciated. The Government’s responsibility is to get land released. Thereafter, it is up to developers to obtain estate approval, develop the infrastructure, and on-sell blocks to builders and the general public. This process can take 1-2 years before a dwelling is commenced and a further 6 to 12 months for the dwelling to be completed. Additionally, even with a record 13,800 persons employed within the ACT construction industry, there is a finite level of home construction that can be achieved in any year.
Taking these factors into account, the unprecedented levels of land release are necessarily taking some time to translate into dwelling completions. In relation dwellings built on the 10,400 specific dwelling sites referred to in my answer it is estimated that 3,250 are either completed or in the final stages of construction.
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