Page 609 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 February 2013
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MRS JONES: Minister, what is the inspection process—rotation, frequency—for these small shopping centres to address issues such as this?
MR RATTENBURY: Neighbourhood shopping centres are cleaned weekly, and more frequently on weekends where required. As I said, there is that hierarchy, but for the local centre it is on a weekly basis.
I would just add that of course there are some issues that have arisen in some recent correspondence I have had with a number of members in the chamber. TAMS and the ACT government only own or are responsible for a certain amount of the land. That tends to be the footpath areas and the common public spaces. Issues that arise on the private property—whether they are graffiti or lights that are not working—that are the responsibility of the private lessees TAMS is unable to deal with, but the matter will often be raised with the private lessee, with TAMS saying, “This has been raised with us by the public” or sometimes just pointing it out as a matter of being clear with the lessees as to what the different responsibilities are.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Does the government have any power to enforce private lessees to remove that waste, or does it just remain with the private lessee to decide not to do something about it?
MR RATTENBURY: I am just trying to think; certainly some of those powers sit with the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate under various enforcement provisions, so I am not across all of the details. But I think there are some powers there for the government. Often, though, I think it would be fair to say that it is done as cooperatively as possible. Certainly to some of the recent correspondence I have received from members the responses we have provided are that TAMS will go out and talk to people. I think the experience is that on most occasions the work is undertaken where TAMS is clear that it is not able to do the work.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: There is a warning that is causing much of the problem here with the animal waste. Are you aware of any plans to repair the warning that is the large part of the problem?
MR RATTENBURY: No, I am not aware of any plans around the specific warning at Rivett but I will ask Territory and Municipal Services, first of all, whether they have any background information on this and, if not, to go out and inspect the situation at Rivett.
Mrs Jones: I have some photos.
MR RATTENBURY: Mrs Jones has photos. That might save a trip. I will actually have a ranger go out and inspect the situation and determine whether it is territory land or whether it is the private lessee’s. If it the private lessee’s, we will take that matter up with them.
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