Page 3720 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, what will happen with the current, and at some stage former, emergency services sites on Cohen Street?
MR CORBELL: The existing fire and ambulance stations on Cohen Street in the Belconnen town centre will continue to remain operational for the time being, until the new co-located fire, rescue and ambulance station at Aranda is constructed. At the time that that station is constructed, it is expected that the Cohen Street facility will then be decommissioned. The reason for that is that the modelling that underpins the locations for new fire, ambulance and rescue facilities is predicated on achieving the effective level of response time coverage needed to cover right across the ACT, and in particular respective districts like Belconnen. Improved cover and response times are then in place as a result of Aranda and Charnwood having been built, and therefore we expect Cohen Street to be decommissioned.
At this point in time, as I have previously indicated, there is no budget funding for Aranda to be constructed. That will be considered in future budget rounds. So the Cohen Street fire and ambulance facilities, with the exception of the training centre for fire, will continue to operate.
Mr Coe: What about the police station?
MR CORBELL: I take the interjection in relation to the police station. The police station is obviously currently decommissioned. That is a matter that is being considered as part of the whole-of-government property strategy and future redevelopment strategies.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how have local residents been able to have the opportunity to engage in the process of the construction of the new west Belconnen ambulance, fire and rescue station?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Gentleman for the supplementary. The government has worked closely with the community in the development of this new facility. This will be the benchmark we set ourselves for ongoing engagement with the community and which we have now seen in relation to the Pialligo site planning and, indeed, with Aranda as well.
Public consultation has been comprehensive in relation to the development of these facilities, including information briefings and question and answer sessions with the Belconnen Community Council and also through engagement with local shopkeepers, traders and property owners in the Charnwood group centre.
There have also been letterbox drops and public information through the print and electronic media, and an opportunity for inclusion also of information in newsletters of seven schools in the area serviced by the new Charnwood facility. The response
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