Page 851 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR BARR: There have been transition arrangements in place in relation to Westside from the private sector managers to the government. In that period of transition the government was not charging rent to those traders. However, there are rental arrangements being arranged. That was reported on in the Canberra Times.
Westside continues to attract new businesses and new events. I note that in the deputy leader of the opposition’s comments he, of course, neglected to mention the positive comments that were made by traders in that same article.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, how much revenue has been lost by the government that was budgeted for, due to traders not paying rent, and how many months will it take to recoup the cost of setting up the container village—if ever?
MR BARR: No revenue; and the government was not ever seeking to recoup the costs of the capital investment. We are, of course, seeking to regularise arrangements for tenants in the container village for the period of its operation.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, what assumptions were made about visitor numbers during initial negotiations with the traders?
MR BARR: That there would be fluctuations in visitor numbers seasonally and based upon events. There are times when there are tens of thousands of people who access the site. Such a time will again occur over the coming weeks, particularly associated with some major festivals and events that will take place there. At other times, particularly in winter, night-time activities would of course be fewer than in the summer months. The original proposition was for the village to be predominantly open on weekends. There are some traders who operate seven days a week.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, how will the container village be impacted by other development work in West Basin?
MR BARR: The first stages of that development work will be in areas around the container village, so within a few hundred meters but not directly impacting upon the site.
Planning—Tharwa village
MR WALL: My question is to the minister for planning. Minister, last week saw the end of the consultation period for the Tharwa village plan. Minister, are you satisfied that all the relevant stakeholders had the opportunity to provide submissions during the process?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video