Page 1414 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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MS GALLAGHER: That is part of the routine work of Territory and Municipal Services in terms of keeping the roads clean. I do acknowledge that I get the odd complaint from time to time about rubbish—essentially glass really—in the cycle ways. As soon as we hear about those we do respond to them. So it is part of the routine maintenance of the city to keep those areas safe for all cyclists to use. But if there are particular problems, particularly in particular areas, I would welcome feedback from members and would be very happy to follow that up.
MR COE: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Chief Minister, does the government have any plans whatsoever to construct on-road segregated bike paths?
MS GALLAGHER: Not at this point in time, although some thought is going into this in relation to Majura parkway.
Water—Cotter Dam
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Chief Minister in her capacity as a shareholder of Actew Corporation, holding shares on behalf of the people of the ACT. Minister, when were you first informed that there was a risk that the cost of construction of the enlarged Cotter Dam would exceed the budgeted $363 million?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mrs Dunne for the question. In my role as shareholder of Actew I have had a number of briefings about the water security project over a number of months. I was aware, certainly by the end of last year, that there was pressure on the budget, although we were not given a specific figure. I think both shareholders were informed that the board had commissioned work to look at some of the cost pressures and that that work would be provided to us at the end of February.
At the end of February, obviously, there was a very significant rain event. I think the shareholders met with the managing director of Actew and the chair of the board in the first week of March.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what action did you take in response to the advice you received that the budget was under pressure?
MS GALLAGHER: We sought meetings with the managing director of Actew. I took briefings from the Treasury around what some of the cost pressures were. I sought assurances. Indeed—I think I speak on behalf of both shareholders here—we sought advice from Actew about what independent analysis had been done of the cost pressures, to analyse the origins of the cost pressures and whether they were
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