Page 2582 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 June 2011
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Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Environment Management Plans are not required for Government-owned cultural and arts facilities including ACT Library and Information Service (ACTLIS) under the Environment Protection Act 1997 for development works or ongoing activity.
The Cultural Facilities Corporation (Corporation) undertakes a range of initiatives relevant to environment management at its facilities, such as paper recycling and use of renewable energy. The Corporation reports on these initiatives in its annual reports.
Arts facilities are occupied by arts organisation under licence agreements with the Territory. Facility Resource Management Plans are not currently required under licence agreements however, aspects such as use of hazardous materials are documented and managed in accordance with the relevant legislation. Arts organisations are encouraged to consider other aspects of building occupation that would be covered in a Resource Management Plan such as waste reduction, recycling and minimising energy use to improve the sustainability of their operations.
(2) Not applicable to cultural facilities.
A Resource Management Plan to cover arts facility operations would be the responsibility of arts organisations to prepare as part of their business planning activities. It would be monitored by artsACT with advice from the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW).
ACTLIS do not have individual branch Resource Management Plans however, are considering an ACT-wide Plan covering issues relevant to all branches as well as branch specific concerns. This Plan would be monitored by the applicable ACT Government Department as leaseholder.
(3) The Cultural Facilities Corporation has been made aware of the $1 million Resource Management Fund (Fund).
Arts organisations occupying arts facilities have not been made aware of the Government’s Resource Management Fund as the fund is only accessible to ACT Government agencies. artsACT is aware of the Fund.
ACTLIS is aware of the Fund and is continuing discussions with ACT Property Group about utilising the Fund.
(4) The Cultural Facilities Corporation has not applied under the Resource Management Fund to date but would consider opportunities to do so in the future.
artsACT has not applied for a loan for arts facilities under the Fund. Arts organisations occupying arts facilities cover their own power costs under current licence agreements and the organisations would make direct savings from reduced resource use. This would prevent artsACT from generating sufficient savings to repay a loan under the Fund. Discussions will continue with the DECCEW about improvements to the environmental management of arts facilities and other possible sources of funding for such improvements.
ACTLIS has not applied for a loan under the Fund however, is interested to consider opportunities under the Fund.
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