Mr MILLS - 2004-11-30
This is the CLP’s blueprint for the integrated development of the Darwin Wharf Precinct that was endorsed by your economic summit in 2001 as the highest priority for infrastructure development in Darwin. This blueprint was the result of 18 months of consultation with Territorians, and it had their support. Given the public outcry against the way you intend to develop the wharf precinct, will you now admit that you have been foolish in disregarding the CLP’s plans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question on the waterfront. In November 2001, the Economic Development Summit gave, as a priority, the development of the waterfront. For the Opposition Leader to hold up the CLP’s planning document and say, ‘This is how the waterfront was to be developed’, is stretching the truth quite a way.
We have a proposal in front of Territorians that is a most exciting proposal. It is $1bn-worth of development on our waterfront. It is a proposal for 11 years of civil construction work, of creating new opportunities for Territorians, for Darwinians, in a development that will complement what we currently have in our CBD, as an adjunct to it. It is a very exciting proposal. On the day that I first gave the details, through a media conference, what we said about what was going to be involved in the waterfront is exactly as we have said.
The Opposition Leader has been absolutely right in this, accusing government of dishonesty about what we put out - absolute rubbish! What we said, on that first day when we put the description out - and what has then translated to the model and has gone to Territorians - is exactly as we are going to go ahead, with one minor change, which will be to do with the hotel and car park which is near the escarpment. That is something that was identified as an issue to deal with, and we are dealing with that. However, where the high-rise is placed - that is what I and the government architect spoke about on the first day - at the end of the fingers on the developments going into the water, we talked about having increased heights there. That is what I spoke about on the first day, and that is what is represented in the model - absolutely accurate.
Really, what is at the heart of the opposition’s criticism here is that they do not support the project. They are like termites, they are trying to chip away at it, trying to eat into it. They should come out and be honest, like the Opposition Leader was on 8TopFM in the Greek radio program, when he said he did not even like the project.
This is a project for Territorians, done with a lot of consultation. If we are going to look at heights, somehow or other the Opposition Leader is saying that the project that was put together under the CLP government is somehow the icon of how we should develop. The guide to heights of buildings and structures, 1999, as part of the CBD development of this waterfront, allowed for maximum height, without demonstrated special merit, of 120 m - a whole area ...
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: It is hard to see the …
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, order!
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister cannot be allowed to get away with blatant lies to Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: You cannot accuse …
Mr BURKE: She knows that the height definitions …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I heard it.
Mr BURKE: … for the wharf precinct are quite different to the height definitions for the CBD. She is quoting from …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order. You cannot accuse the Chief Minister, as you just did, without substantive motion. I ask you to withdraw.
Mr BURKE: Well, she is going to get a substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: Stand up and withdraw.
Mr BURKE: Withdraw what, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: The accusation that she is lying. That is what you started off with, member for Brennan. Just withdraw.
Mr BURKE: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: I did not hear you.
Mr BURKE: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, nice and clear.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I make this point about heights because that is something that the opposition is not telling the facts about. When the member for Brennan says I am not being accurate about what was proposed by the previous government for the waterfront; this is about the waterfront – absolutely. At the waterfront, in the Fort Hill area, under your previous planning, we had a whole section, all coloured here in nice beige, of 120 m height - 40 storeys - and other areas of 55 m high could go higher if you wanted.
This is such an exciting proposal that it is disappointing to hear the negativity from the opposition, which they think is good political strategy. It is good political strategy from them to knock a project of a $1bn, something that has really excited our community, that provides a convention centre, an exhibition space, new residential developments, and new recreation - 40% - not in the proposal that we had from the previous space …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister is referring to that document. Could she be so kind as to table it, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, she can when she finishes her question.
Ms MARTIN: You have it in the document in front of you.
Mr Henderson: Your own document.
Ms MARTIN: You have it in your own document.
Mr Elferink: I want what you have on the table.
Madam SPEAKER: When you have finished your answer, Chief Minister, please table it.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, at the end of Question Time, I am happy to make a copy and we will have it tabled.
Let us be honest about what the opposition is trying to do. They are trying to knock jobs, business opportunities, and an important development for Darwin’s future. I say: ‘Stop fiddling around the edges on this. Come out and say what you mean: that you do not support it’.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The request was specifically for the document she was referring to, not a copy of it. Could she table the copy that she is referring to?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister requested you to wait until after Question Time because, no doubt, she feels there may be some more questions. You can have it then.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question on the waterfront. In November 2001, the Economic Development Summit gave, as a priority, the development of the waterfront. For the Opposition Leader to hold up the CLP’s planning document and say, ‘This is how the waterfront was to be developed’, is stretching the truth quite a way.
We have a proposal in front of Territorians that is a most exciting proposal. It is $1bn-worth of development on our waterfront. It is a proposal for 11 years of civil construction work, of creating new opportunities for Territorians, for Darwinians, in a development that will complement what we currently have in our CBD, as an adjunct to it. It is a very exciting proposal. On the day that I first gave the details, through a media conference, what we said about what was going to be involved in the waterfront is exactly as we have said.
The Opposition Leader has been absolutely right in this, accusing government of dishonesty about what we put out - absolute rubbish! What we said, on that first day when we put the description out - and what has then translated to the model and has gone to Territorians - is exactly as we are going to go ahead, with one minor change, which will be to do with the hotel and car park which is near the escarpment. That is something that was identified as an issue to deal with, and we are dealing with that. However, where the high-rise is placed - that is what I and the government architect spoke about on the first day - at the end of the fingers on the developments going into the water, we talked about having increased heights there. That is what I spoke about on the first day, and that is what is represented in the model - absolutely accurate.
Really, what is at the heart of the opposition’s criticism here is that they do not support the project. They are like termites, they are trying to chip away at it, trying to eat into it. They should come out and be honest, like the Opposition Leader was on 8TopFM in the Greek radio program, when he said he did not even like the project.
This is a project for Territorians, done with a lot of consultation. If we are going to look at heights, somehow or other the Opposition Leader is saying that the project that was put together under the CLP government is somehow the icon of how we should develop. The guide to heights of buildings and structures, 1999, as part of the CBD development of this waterfront, allowed for maximum height, without demonstrated special merit, of 120 m - a whole area ...
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: It is hard to see the …
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, order!
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister cannot be allowed to get away with blatant lies to Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: You cannot accuse …
Mr BURKE: She knows that the height definitions …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I heard it.
Mr BURKE: … for the wharf precinct are quite different to the height definitions for the CBD. She is quoting from …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order. You cannot accuse the Chief Minister, as you just did, without substantive motion. I ask you to withdraw.
Mr BURKE: Well, she is going to get a substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: Stand up and withdraw.
Mr BURKE: Withdraw what, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: The accusation that she is lying. That is what you started off with, member for Brennan. Just withdraw.
Mr BURKE: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: I did not hear you.
Mr BURKE: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, nice and clear.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I make this point about heights because that is something that the opposition is not telling the facts about. When the member for Brennan says I am not being accurate about what was proposed by the previous government for the waterfront; this is about the waterfront – absolutely. At the waterfront, in the Fort Hill area, under your previous planning, we had a whole section, all coloured here in nice beige, of 120 m height - 40 storeys - and other areas of 55 m high could go higher if you wanted.
This is such an exciting proposal that it is disappointing to hear the negativity from the opposition, which they think is good political strategy. It is good political strategy from them to knock a project of a $1bn, something that has really excited our community, that provides a convention centre, an exhibition space, new residential developments, and new recreation - 40% - not in the proposal that we had from the previous space …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister is referring to that document. Could she be so kind as to table it, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, she can when she finishes her question.
Ms MARTIN: You have it in the document in front of you.
Mr Henderson: Your own document.
Ms MARTIN: You have it in your own document.
Mr Elferink: I want what you have on the table.
Madam SPEAKER: When you have finished your answer, Chief Minister, please table it.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, at the end of Question Time, I am happy to make a copy and we will have it tabled.
Let us be honest about what the opposition is trying to do. They are trying to knock jobs, business opportunities, and an important development for Darwin’s future. I say: ‘Stop fiddling around the edges on this. Come out and say what you mean: that you do not support it’.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The request was specifically for the document she was referring to, not a copy of it. Could she table the copy that she is referring to?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister requested you to wait until after Question Time because, no doubt, she feels there may be some more questions. You can have it then.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016