Mrs HICKEY - 2000-06-15
In yesterday’s NT News the minister had an advertisement claiming that, and I quote: ‘The Northern Territory’s environment remains in a pristine state, thanks largely to the efforts of individuals who work diligently to protect our greatest asset’.
I refer the minister to the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club lease. The minister admitted in a letter to the Gulf News of 16 September 1999, and I quote: ‘No planning controls exist over the leased land in terms of development, and the Northern Territory Planning Act does not apply in this area’.
Can the minister confirm that: (1) in a high cyclone risk area, no government requirements for a cyclone proof building are in place at this extensive, well-populated tourist recreation destination; and (2) the David Glory Group have been able to construct flimsy buildings, knock down trees and create general environmental damage without any constraints?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member is quite right that building approvals don’t apply to that area. There are many places in the Northern Territory they don’t apply to, and neither do planning instruments.
My colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, was quite right about the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club and the lease arrangements, the tenure arrangements, that they have. They can issue sub-leases.
The concerns with the environment down at King Ash Bay are of great concern to me. I notice that the member raised today another issue concerning the jellyfish factory, and it was raised only today, as far as I’m aware. It is the allegation that there are faeces laying around the place, and that is of great concern to me. That is of great concern to me as environment minister. I also note that the member for Barkly wrote to me just a few days ago. She in fact faxed me about some other concerns to do with sewerage and what have you down there, and I’m getting answers.
The hard copy of the letter arrived this morning. I can tell the member for Barkly that as far as I’m aware on preliminary checks with the department, there are no undertakings going on with regard to the dumping of sewerage that you’ve raised, but I’ll get you a more fulsome answer on that.
In regard to this particular issue that the member has raised today, I can assure her that I am very, very concerned and I’ll have one of my environmental officers ...
I refer the minister to the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club lease. The minister admitted in a letter to the Gulf News of 16 September 1999, and I quote: ‘No planning controls exist over the leased land in terms of development, and the Northern Territory Planning Act does not apply in this area’.
Can the minister confirm that: (1) in a high cyclone risk area, no government requirements for a cyclone proof building are in place at this extensive, well-populated tourist recreation destination; and (2) the David Glory Group have been able to construct flimsy buildings, knock down trees and create general environmental damage without any constraints?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member is quite right that building approvals don’t apply to that area. There are many places in the Northern Territory they don’t apply to, and neither do planning instruments.
My colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, was quite right about the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club and the lease arrangements, the tenure arrangements, that they have. They can issue sub-leases.
The concerns with the environment down at King Ash Bay are of great concern to me. I notice that the member raised today another issue concerning the jellyfish factory, and it was raised only today, as far as I’m aware. It is the allegation that there are faeces laying around the place, and that is of great concern to me. That is of great concern to me as environment minister. I also note that the member for Barkly wrote to me just a few days ago. She in fact faxed me about some other concerns to do with sewerage and what have you down there, and I’m getting answers.
The hard copy of the letter arrived this morning. I can tell the member for Barkly that as far as I’m aware on preliminary checks with the department, there are no undertakings going on with regard to the dumping of sewerage that you’ve raised, but I’ll get you a more fulsome answer on that.
In regard to this particular issue that the member has raised today, I can assure her that I am very, very concerned and I’ll have one of my environmental officers ...
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016