Page 297 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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confident that the Tuggeranong community in particular are going to welcome this new health service that will be provided seven days a week for extended hours and free of charge.
Roads—Clunies Ross Street
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, you would be aware that the CSIRO intends to vacate its Campbell headquarters site and move its headquarters to the Black Mountain facility. Fears were raised yesterday at the Canberra Business Council Vision 2050 luncheon that your government’s plans to duplicate Clunies Ross Street will effectively divide the two organisations, dramatically reducing the effectiveness of the relocation and, in effect, splitting the ANU as an academic and research institution from the CSIRO as a research and development institution. Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt has called this a potential billion dollar mistake. Minister, what is your government doing to address this potential billion dollar mistake?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Smyth for the question. This is the first time it has been raised with me, which surprises me if it has come from the Canberra Business Council because they have pretty frequent access to and dialogue with both myself and the Deputy Chief Minister. So I am happy to take a look at it if it is something that is at the development stage in TAMS. There is no funding for the duplication of Clunies Ross Street at this point in time. I have not even seen a feasibility study or a design and I certainly have not had any representations along the lines that you have outlined today. I am very happy to look at it.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, what alternatives were considered to the proposed duplication of Clunies Ross Street?
MS GALLAGHER: As I said, I have not seen any work being done—we have not funded a feasibility or a design study for that. So if it is getting in early, if people are speculating, then I think it is something where we can work with the business community, the CSIRO and Professor Schmidt, if there are concerns, to make sure that any concerns are addressed. As I said, there are no plans. It is not a matter that has come through the budget process previously and I am happy to look at it.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Chief Minister, are you aware of whether any agencies had communication with either CSIRO or the ANU regarding duplication of Clunies Ross?
MS GALLAGHER: Roads ACT are asked to speak with different organisations across a range of issues right across the city. So it would not surprise me if Roads ACT had had some discussion with someone about the traffic needs and how we deal with future traffic numbers along Clunies Ross. In any early discussion, it would not surprise me. I am very happy to chase that up. Perhaps the TAMS minister can follow that up and provide an update to the Assembly.
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