Dr LIM - 2003-08-14
I hope this time the minister can answer the question. I refer you to an article in the Sunday Territorian of 20 April 2002, announcing a $210m housing estate containing 700 blocks of land in Alice Springs, near the Alice Springs Golf Club. The project promises to employ 300 people during each of the 10 years taken to complete the project’. Minister - you frown - can you advise the House of the discussions you have had with the developers; what is the current status of the development; and when can Territorians expect an announcement by your government that the project will commence?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I find it curious that the government has to give a response for a private development. What he actually quotes from the newspaper is a proposal by a private developer in Alice Springs who came and saw us, spoke to us, put the plans for the development on the table, and it is up to him to develop it. It is not a government development …
Dr Lim: What is your response?
Mr VATSKALIS: It is not the government’s responsibility to sponsor or develop it. If the developer is genuine, he can put a submission to the DCA, and can then proceed with the development - nobody stops him - the same way as another developer in Alice Springs proposed to subdivide his land. He put it to the DCA, the DCA made a decision to put it to me to make a decision about it.
This government does not make deals with private developers. This government is not going to pay money to develop land for public developers. This government, believe it or not, in contrast to you, believes in private enterprise initiative. If the developer is genuine, he can always approach us with his development.
ANSWER
I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I find it curious that the government has to give a response for a private development. What he actually quotes from the newspaper is a proposal by a private developer in Alice Springs who came and saw us, spoke to us, put the plans for the development on the table, and it is up to him to develop it. It is not a government development …
Dr Lim: What is your response?
Mr VATSKALIS: It is not the government’s responsibility to sponsor or develop it. If the developer is genuine, he can put a submission to the DCA, and can then proceed with the development - nobody stops him - the same way as another developer in Alice Springs proposed to subdivide his land. He put it to the DCA, the DCA made a decision to put it to me to make a decision about it.
This government does not make deals with private developers. This government is not going to pay money to develop land for public developers. This government, believe it or not, in contrast to you, believes in private enterprise initiative. If the developer is genuine, he can always approach us with his development.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016