Ms PURICK - 2009-04-30
Thanks to years of your government withholding land for residential development, the people of Darwin pay the highest rents in the country and young homebuyers are mortgaged up to their eyeballs. To paraphrase you, the most expensive homes in the country do not …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question is almost like a speech. Can the member get to the point?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Ms PURICK: To paraphrase you, the most expensive homes in the country do not happen by accident. On 10 December last year, you finally announced headworks at Bellamack had begun. On that day, you claimed that the first housing lots were expected to be released in the second half of 2009, where we are almost at.
Will you now admit that you have absolutely no chance of meeting your promised timetable for Bellamack? Is this not what we now know as a Delia deception?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to rule on the use of that last epithet - ‘Delia deception’.
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek some advice. I ask that you withdraw. You may rephrase, as long as it is parliamentary.
Ms PURICK: Yes, Madam Speaker, I withdraw that comment. Minister, isn’t this what we know now, and that Territorians have been deceived?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the shadow minister simply has it wrong again. I will step through the Bellamack land release, which the government has been working tirelessly on with the successful tenderers. We have …
Ms Purick: It is not fast-tracked, though.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We have very fine officers, not just in the Department of Planning and Lands involved in this, but also from Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Chief Minister. There are very fine officers of the public service working very hard on finalising Bellamack. Currently, it is still on track for lots to be out in the marketplace in the second half of 2009, as I have previously stated.
Stepping through Bellamack, in September 2008, Urban Pacific Limited and Brierty Limited consortium were selected as the preferred proponent to develop Bellamack areas A and B. Negotiations on the details of the Crown lease and the development agreement are continuing with the consortium. Most of the issues have been resolved. The consortium’s design and planning processes have been running in parallel to these negotiations.
In March of this year, the Development Consent Authority approved the subdivision of Stage 1 to create 237 lots; 234 residential and three open space lots. The consortium is in the stages of finalising the civil design plans for Stage 1, and obtaining the remaining permits and clearances. Brierty Limited has commenced setting up its Territory operations by purchasing equipment in Darwin and advertising in the Northern Territory News for subdivisional workers. Forty applications were received. On-site construction is anticipated to start in June of this year. Madam Speaker, as I have said, the first blocks are expected to be available towards the end of 2009.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question is almost like a speech. Can the member get to the point?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Ms PURICK: To paraphrase you, the most expensive homes in the country do not happen by accident. On 10 December last year, you finally announced headworks at Bellamack had begun. On that day, you claimed that the first housing lots were expected to be released in the second half of 2009, where we are almost at.
Will you now admit that you have absolutely no chance of meeting your promised timetable for Bellamack? Is this not what we now know as a Delia deception?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to rule on the use of that last epithet - ‘Delia deception’.
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek some advice. I ask that you withdraw. You may rephrase, as long as it is parliamentary.
Ms PURICK: Yes, Madam Speaker, I withdraw that comment. Minister, isn’t this what we know now, and that Territorians have been deceived?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the shadow minister simply has it wrong again. I will step through the Bellamack land release, which the government has been working tirelessly on with the successful tenderers. We have …
Ms Purick: It is not fast-tracked, though.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We have very fine officers, not just in the Department of Planning and Lands involved in this, but also from Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Chief Minister. There are very fine officers of the public service working very hard on finalising Bellamack. Currently, it is still on track for lots to be out in the marketplace in the second half of 2009, as I have previously stated.
Stepping through Bellamack, in September 2008, Urban Pacific Limited and Brierty Limited consortium were selected as the preferred proponent to develop Bellamack areas A and B. Negotiations on the details of the Crown lease and the development agreement are continuing with the consortium. Most of the issues have been resolved. The consortium’s design and planning processes have been running in parallel to these negotiations.
In March of this year, the Development Consent Authority approved the subdivision of Stage 1 to create 237 lots; 234 residential and three open space lots. The consortium is in the stages of finalising the civil design plans for Stage 1, and obtaining the remaining permits and clearances. Brierty Limited has commenced setting up its Territory operations by purchasing equipment in Darwin and advertising in the Northern Territory News for subdivisional workers. Forty applications were received. On-site construction is anticipated to start in June of this year. Madam Speaker, as I have said, the first blocks are expected to be available towards the end of 2009.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016