Page 3513 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015
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Government—land purchase
MR SMYTH: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, could you please advise the Assembly if the ACT government has purchased a block of land in the city next to the casino. If so, what are the details of the purchase?
MR BARR: My understanding is that the Land Development Agency, through its strategic acquisitions capability, has entered into negotiations. I am not certain yet as to whether those have been finalised; I will take that part of the question on notice.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Did the government purchase a specified block or was the purchase a block that had to be subdivided? What plans does the government have for the land near the casino that it is in the process of purchasing?
MR BARR: The government makes strategic acquisitions of land from time to time for a variety of purposes.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: What is the block number of the acquired land?
MR BARR: I will take that question on notice.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Chief Minister, what process was used to determine the value of the land?
MR BARR: The usual process is to seek independent valuations and negotiate with the parties who have ownership of said land.
Environment—conservation
MS LAWDER: My question is to the Chief Minister. Minister, the 2015-16 estimates committees recommended that the government establish a single nature conservation agency. The government only noted this recommendation. Under the Labor-Greens government parliamentary agreement, ACT Labor agreed to implement the merging of existing conservation services into a single nature conservation agency. Further, the Auditor-General's report on the Lower Cotter catchment made a high priority recommendation that the government develop Lower Cotter catchment management coordination and decision-making arrangements in consultation with, for example, Icon Water and Territory and Municipal Services. Minister, when will the government establish a single nature conservation agency as recommended by both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 estimates committees?
MR BARR: That question is of course seeking an announcement of government policy, which I will not be making in question time today.
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