Mrs BRAHAM - 2007-05-02
Madam Speaker, before I do ask my question, I inform the House that the CLP branch Advance Alice is now being re-badged Dis-advance Alice.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: What an idiot! That was offensive. That is outrageous what you said, being from Alice Springs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, ask your question.
Mr Stirling: She tells the truth, more than you do.
Ms Carney: You would not know what it was and you could not even spell it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
As you know, the question of whether the donga development along Dalgety Road in Alice Springs should go ahead has been raised constantly by residents in that area, especially after reports of the DCA, which did not give its approval but, unfortunately, gave you a loophole by stating that, if it did go ahead, it could do under certain conditions. You and I know the AAPA Board met yesterday. I notice Indigenous Business Australia’s engineering consultants, QANTEC have put an ad in the paper for registrations of interest for these facilities to go ahead. Could you tell me, what was the result of the AAPA Board decision yesterday? Have they given certificates of clearance, or is this an indication that this development is going to go ahead despite that consultation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I acknowledge that she has been consistent and thorough in getting to the bottom of the details of these important temporary accommodation site developments in Alice Springs. I acknowledge her efforts as a local member in that respect. The member for Braitling drew my attention to an advertisement in the Centralian Advocate on 1 May. That advertisement was for registrations of interest from contractors suitably qualified to construct those facilities. It was placed by the consulting engineers, QANTEC McWilliam on behalf of Indigenous Business Australia which is a federal government agency.
Having had this drawn to my attention, I asked my agency to have a look at what that advertisement was all about. The advice I have received is that the pre-construction conditions that I set as Planning minister on the leases for those accommodation sites have not yet been met. The advice I have received today is that those AAPA certificates, as part of the conditions for the site, have not yet been issued. That clears up categorically those two aspects of the question. I am also advised that there are no plans to implement any works at this stage.
QANTEC McWilliam were contacted by my agency and I am advised that, regarding the purpose of the advertisement, the process was intended to pre-qualify prospective contractors in order that they may establish the capacity of potential for future tender works when all the approvals are in place. It is really to test the marketplace in Alice Springs to see what capacity there is in the event that all the approvals are in place. The intention by QANTEC, I am advised, was to streamline any future tender assessments to enable work to proceed at the earliest opportunity in the event that all clearances and approvals are put in place.
The calling for interest in forthcoming construction contracts is not unusual. I am advised that it does enable those principals to assess possible contractors prior to any construction tenders being available, and it makes the industry aware that a project will be forthcoming in the future. I am advised there is no basis for public concern, that due process is not being observed in this advertisement, or that the proponents - ultimately the federal government in this case through IBA through QANTEC - are not meeting the conditions of the permits granted for the facilities.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: What an idiot! That was offensive. That is outrageous what you said, being from Alice Springs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, ask your question.
Mr Stirling: She tells the truth, more than you do.
Ms Carney: You would not know what it was and you could not even spell it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
As you know, the question of whether the donga development along Dalgety Road in Alice Springs should go ahead has been raised constantly by residents in that area, especially after reports of the DCA, which did not give its approval but, unfortunately, gave you a loophole by stating that, if it did go ahead, it could do under certain conditions. You and I know the AAPA Board met yesterday. I notice Indigenous Business Australia’s engineering consultants, QANTEC have put an ad in the paper for registrations of interest for these facilities to go ahead. Could you tell me, what was the result of the AAPA Board decision yesterday? Have they given certificates of clearance, or is this an indication that this development is going to go ahead despite that consultation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I acknowledge that she has been consistent and thorough in getting to the bottom of the details of these important temporary accommodation site developments in Alice Springs. I acknowledge her efforts as a local member in that respect. The member for Braitling drew my attention to an advertisement in the Centralian Advocate on 1 May. That advertisement was for registrations of interest from contractors suitably qualified to construct those facilities. It was placed by the consulting engineers, QANTEC McWilliam on behalf of Indigenous Business Australia which is a federal government agency.
Having had this drawn to my attention, I asked my agency to have a look at what that advertisement was all about. The advice I have received is that the pre-construction conditions that I set as Planning minister on the leases for those accommodation sites have not yet been met. The advice I have received today is that those AAPA certificates, as part of the conditions for the site, have not yet been issued. That clears up categorically those two aspects of the question. I am also advised that there are no plans to implement any works at this stage.
QANTEC McWilliam were contacted by my agency and I am advised that, regarding the purpose of the advertisement, the process was intended to pre-qualify prospective contractors in order that they may establish the capacity of potential for future tender works when all the approvals are in place. It is really to test the marketplace in Alice Springs to see what capacity there is in the event that all the approvals are in place. The intention by QANTEC, I am advised, was to streamline any future tender assessments to enable work to proceed at the earliest opportunity in the event that all clearances and approvals are put in place.
The calling for interest in forthcoming construction contracts is not unusual. I am advised that it does enable those principals to assess possible contractors prior to any construction tenders being available, and it makes the industry aware that a project will be forthcoming in the future. I am advised there is no basis for public concern, that due process is not being observed in this advertisement, or that the proponents - ultimately the federal government in this case through IBA through QANTEC - are not meeting the conditions of the permits granted for the facilities.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016