Page 4877 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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commissioner alerting him to her concerns about environmental issues with the proposed move of the ESA headquarters to Canberra airport. The commissioner said:
I would like to ensure that the ESA is aware of the significant biodiversity conservation values of the land to the north of the airport … [particularly with regard to] the northern access road.
Minister, what work did the government do to protect the significant biodiversity conservation values to the north of the airport?
MR CORBELL: The north access road has not been built.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, a supplementary.
MR HANSON: Minister, how does the lack of a northern access road affect response times, particularly to the north of Canberra?
MR CORBELL: It does not.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary.
MR SMYTH: Yes, Mr Speaker. Minister, what studies were undertaken to ascertain what the significant biodiversity conservation values of that land to the north of the airport were and what protection they required?
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, Mr Smyth has asked me questions about a road which would be built by the Canberra Airport Group on land owned by the Canberra Airport Group or land owned by the commonwealth Department of Defence. Planning controls and the approvals necessary to build such a road are entirely within the realm of the commonwealth, and my understanding is that the airport have sought approval from the commonwealth to build the northern access road and they do have an approval under the EPBC to do so cognisant of a requirement for a range of environmental offsets to be put in place because of the proximity of that road to endangered grassland areas.
These are not matters which the ACT government has any planning approval or control over; nor are they matters where the ACT government owns or is investing any money in the development of the road. These are entirely matters for the commonwealth.
In relation to the desirability of the northern access road in terms of improving access to the Emergency Services headquarters, it is the case that it would be useful to have that northern access road, but it is not necessary to maintain response times.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, why did your government choose a site for the headquarters for the Emergency Services Agency when there is no alternative road access?
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