Mrs BRAHAM - 1996-10-17
What plans does the minister have for the residential subdivision of the former Telecom site in Alice Springs?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have an illustration of a member of this Assembly who is concerned about progress in the Northern Territory.
Mr Bailey: You asked her to ask the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri again interjects. The member for Braitling has asked this question because she happens to be a resident and a member representing her constituents in Alice Springs. Obviously, she has more interest in the wellbeing and the future of her constituents than do the member for Wanguri and his colleagues opposite.
Mr Bailey: If it is a question without notice, why don't you have an answer?
Mr REED: I appreciate the opportunity the member for Wanguri takes to illustrate his ignorance and his rudeness to Territorians from Darwin through to Alice Springs who are listening to this broadcast. It will not be lost on them that the interest in the future and wellbeing of Territorians comes from this side of the House and is ignored by members opposite.
On 20 September, expressions of interest were sought for the development of what is known as the old Telecom site, lot 1019 Gap Road in Alice Springs. Six parties lodged notice of a formal interest and these were assessed by a panel comprising representatives from my department, the Australian Valuation Office and Alice Springs Town Council. Such diverse panel membership is another development in the comprehensiveness of these assessments, increasing the scope of input and involvement that we can draw on. Further information was sought from the bidders following that assessment and the final consideration was undertaken last week. I can advise the honourable member that a local company, Prestige Constructions, was selected as the preferred contractor. Prestige will now be offered an 18-month crown lease term, convertible to freehold title on successful completion of the subdivision. As part of the package, Prestige has agreed to return to the government, at no cost, 15 serviced allotments each with an area of no less than 600 m2 which in turn can be offered to first-home buyers in Alice Springs.
The government has been pro-active in trying to achieve a greater turn-off of land in Alice Springs. Recently, I announced that we would be endeavouring to make land available for first-home buyers, given the high cost of land in Alice Springs and the resultant difficulty that first-home buyers are experiencing in investing in a block of land and eventually a house. Prestige Constructions will initiate planning approval for the proposed subdivision and will seek the necessary approvals from the relevant statutory bodies at no cost to the government. I am advised that Prestige will be using a number of reputable local companies for subdivision design, project management and civil construction components of the project. It sounds as if it will be very much an Alice Springs development. It is a good site which is close to the central business district of Alice Springs. It will provide land for some 60 or 70 dwellings and, if members opposite are not interested, then the member for Braitling certainly is.
She can now report in detail to the people of Alice Springs ...
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Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri again interrupts. I take the opportunity to put that on the record because Territorians listening need to know of the lack of interest that members opposite have in these very important issues. Alice Springs is experiencing an increasing demand for land. The 60 or 70 dwellings that will result from this development will ease that situation, and I think the 15 or so first-home buyers who will benefit from this development will be a tad more appreciative of what is being done than members opposite appear to be.
Page 1722
Page 1720
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have an illustration of a member of this Assembly who is concerned about progress in the Northern Territory.
Mr Bailey: You asked her to ask the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri again interjects. The member for Braitling has asked this question because she happens to be a resident and a member representing her constituents in Alice Springs. Obviously, she has more interest in the wellbeing and the future of her constituents than do the member for Wanguri and his colleagues opposite.
Mr Bailey: If it is a question without notice, why don't you have an answer?
Mr REED: I appreciate the opportunity the member for Wanguri takes to illustrate his ignorance and his rudeness to Territorians from Darwin through to Alice Springs who are listening to this broadcast. It will not be lost on them that the interest in the future and wellbeing of Territorians comes from this side of the House and is ignored by members opposite.
On 20 September, expressions of interest were sought for the development of what is known as the old Telecom site, lot 1019 Gap Road in Alice Springs. Six parties lodged notice of a formal interest and these were assessed by a panel comprising representatives from my department, the Australian Valuation Office and Alice Springs Town Council. Such diverse panel membership is another development in the comprehensiveness of these assessments, increasing the scope of input and involvement that we can draw on. Further information was sought from the bidders following that assessment and the final consideration was undertaken last week. I can advise the honourable member that a local company, Prestige Constructions, was selected as the preferred contractor. Prestige will now be offered an 18-month crown lease term, convertible to freehold title on successful completion of the subdivision. As part of the package, Prestige has agreed to return to the government, at no cost, 15 serviced allotments each with an area of no less than 600 m2 which in turn can be offered to first-home buyers in Alice Springs.
The government has been pro-active in trying to achieve a greater turn-off of land in Alice Springs. Recently, I announced that we would be endeavouring to make land available for first-home buyers, given the high cost of land in Alice Springs and the resultant difficulty that first-home buyers are experiencing in investing in a block of land and eventually a house. Prestige Constructions will initiate planning approval for the proposed subdivision and will seek the necessary approvals from the relevant statutory bodies at no cost to the government. I am advised that Prestige will be using a number of reputable local companies for subdivision design, project management and civil construction components of the project. It sounds as if it will be very much an Alice Springs development. It is a good site which is close to the central business district of Alice Springs. It will provide land for some 60 or 70 dwellings and, if members opposite are not interested, then the member for Braitling certainly is.
She can now report in detail to the people of Alice Springs ...
Page 1721
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Wanguri again interrupts. I take the opportunity to put that on the record because Territorians listening need to know of the lack of interest that members opposite have in these very important issues. Alice Springs is experiencing an increasing demand for land. The 60 or 70 dwellings that will result from this development will ease that situation, and I think the 15 or so first-home buyers who will benefit from this development will be a tad more appreciative of what is being done than members opposite appear to be.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016