Mr WOOD - 2008-05-07
In the budget, you gave $5.2m to upgrade, again, Leanyer Recreation Lake, yet not a cent to go to the Howard Springs Reserve to make it suitable for swimming as it once was. You announced record infrastructure spending of $870m, yet not one cent for the cycle path you promised from Palmerston to Howard Springs. You announced $16.6m to underground power in the northern suburbs, but not a razoo to upgrade water lines in the rural area. Why? Are rural residents in Nelson not entitled to a portion of your $300m GST windfall, or do they not count?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I make absolutely no apology for the $5m for the new water slide, the new shade areas, the extra slides and equipment, and also the new office accommodation block at Leanyer Recreation Park so that the kiosk area can be opened up and actually get a functioning caf there.
I invite the member for Nelson to get to Leanyer Recreation Park. It is in his electorate, so he may as well go. When you go to Leanyer Recreation Park, and ask people: ‘Hi, where are you from?’, an amazing amount of people tell me: ‘I am from …’, and they all mention the rural area ...
Mr Wood: Because they cannot swim at Howard Springs any more.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: There are also people from Darwin, from all through the suburbs. Anyone who has any idea of water parks and their location - we can compare regional cities, say, in Queensland. The distance people travel from the rural area to the water park is a natural distance that people travel to get to a water park.
The Howard Springs Nature Reserve is a beautiful, pristine nature reserve. If the member for Nelson is suggesting that we turn that into a recreation water park …
Mr Wood: I did not suggest. Put it back to what it was. Do not twist the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … like Leanyer Recreation Park, I would like to find out the public consultation process that he has undertaken in terms of that suggestion, because …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: … I query whether people who enjoy the nature reserve of Howard Springs …
Mr Mills: This is appalling.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … would find an urban recreation park compatible with that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I make absolutely no apology for the $5m for the new water slide, the new shade areas, the extra slides and equipment, and also the new office accommodation block at Leanyer Recreation Park so that the kiosk area can be opened up and actually get a functioning caf there.
I invite the member for Nelson to get to Leanyer Recreation Park. It is in his electorate, so he may as well go. When you go to Leanyer Recreation Park, and ask people: ‘Hi, where are you from?’, an amazing amount of people tell me: ‘I am from …’, and they all mention the rural area ...
Mr Wood: Because they cannot swim at Howard Springs any more.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: There are also people from Darwin, from all through the suburbs. Anyone who has any idea of water parks and their location - we can compare regional cities, say, in Queensland. The distance people travel from the rural area to the water park is a natural distance that people travel to get to a water park.
The Howard Springs Nature Reserve is a beautiful, pristine nature reserve. If the member for Nelson is suggesting that we turn that into a recreation water park …
Mr Wood: I did not suggest. Put it back to what it was. Do not twist the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … like Leanyer Recreation Park, I would like to find out the public consultation process that he has undertaken in terms of that suggestion, because …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: … I query whether people who enjoy the nature reserve of Howard Springs …
Mr Mills: This is appalling.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … would find an urban recreation park compatible with that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016