Page 2887 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the supplementary. The disability reference group, as I have indicated, sets its own work plan. It determines the areas where it would like to provide advice to government on specific matters. At the moment those have been focused on health and employment. It provides feedback to the government in relation to the implementation of the national disability insurance scheme. The reference group meets regularly. I went to their most recent meeting last week and sat down and talked to them about a wide range of issues and had questions and feedback.
I will have to take on notice the question about when they most recently provided specific advice in relation to transport and city services issues. I do know that members of the disability reference group attended, for example, the light rail—I cannot remember exactly what it is called—“come and try” day that was specifically around ensuring that the service would be appropriate for people with disability, that people with disability understood how to use the service, and that people who were supporting patrons on the light rail had the experience of working with people with disability to understand how they are best supported. Members of the disability reference group were engaged in that process.
Municipal services—tree removal
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Recently the owners of the Calwell shopping centre discovered that trees located adjacent to the shopping centre on territory-owned land were causing structural damage to their property and significant damage to the paving outside the premises, causing not only a safety hazard to patrons but also concern around the structural properties of the building. Minister, your directorate approved the removal of the trees but informed the owners that they were responsible for the cost as well as arranging the removal of the trees themselves, despite the trees being located on territory land. Why do business owners who already pay exorbitant rates have to pay to have trees removed that are on government property?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for his question. I acknowledge that trees, while being a fantastic part of our urban lifestyle, can damage properties, particularly if they are inappropriate for the urban setting. We try to make sure that they comply with the guidelines for municipal infrastructure so that they are appropriate. In circumstances where they are not we look at what opportunities there are to have them removed if they are causing issues in relation to safety and so forth.
In relation to the specifics of Mr Wall’s question I am very happy to take that on notice and get back to him; I am not aware of the specific details.
MR WALL: I will give the minister a second chance. Minister, why is it that Calwell businesses are paying in excess of $50,000 a year in rates yet have to fund the removal of trees that are on government land causing damage to their property?
MR STEEL: As I just mentioned, I am not aware of the exact specifics of this case. I am happy to look into it and provide some information back to the Assembly.
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