Mr BURKE - 2005-02-15
Whilst you were insisting on rushing approval and financial close to the waterfront development to suit your own political time line, can you confirm that all of the Defence issues surrounding this development have been dealt with and bedded down? If they have not, can you provide details of what issues are outstanding, and in what time frame you are hoping to achieve solutions to these issues, and do they also impact on your achieving financial close?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with the terrific waterfront development, we are actively seeking to have Defence stay as part of the waterfront using Fort Hill Wharf and the old Iron Ore Wharf. That is something that we …
Mr Dunham: And driving the tanks through the suburbs. That is what is in your plan. Armaments, ammunitions …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, allow the Chief Minister to continue.
Mr Dunham: I am trying to help her out.
Ms MARTIN: If the Opposition Leader asks a question, I am assuming the member for Drysdale supports that question and wants to hear the answer?
Mr Dunham: Yes, a truthful one.
Ms MARTIN: Okay. We want to have Defence and cruise ships as part of the waterfront. An active waterfront is a very important part of this. We are having ongoing discussions with Defence about the unloading of fuel at the current Iron Ore Wharf and are confident that we will resolve those issues. There is no immediate requirement for that.
The waterfront is a decade-long project. Stage 1, which we are talking about now, is the $250m convention and exhibition centre; the seawalls and associated beach area; 140 residential units; and the hotel and car park. That is stage 1. Over the time we will be building the rest of the waterfront, we will sort through those issues which impact. We have a wonderful new fuel terminal. Vopak has been building a state-of-the-art fuel terminal across from the port, something supported by the CLP, with bipartisan support. What we want to see is the Stuart Park Fuel Farm relocated, and that will happen from August as that is the starting date. We have another inner-city development which we can then work with the community on.
Of course we want to see most of the fuel at the East Arm Port – it makes sense. We will work with Defence to achieve a resolution of all the outstanding issues. I will not pretend; we have had some difficulties over the last six months. However, I was very heartened when the HMAS Kanimbla left, and Defence Minister, Robert Hill publicly stated that he could see resolution of these issues. I shook his hand; it was terrific. Those talks with officials in Defence are continuing. The talks have the support of the minister, and I believe we will see a resolution of those issues.
This is a major project for Darwin. Of course there are going to be gritty issues to deal with. We are building for our future. We have a plan. We know where Darwin is going. I would like the opposition to share that, rather than to try to pull it down question after question after question. It is a great plan, and we will sort through the issues, such as those with Defence.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with the terrific waterfront development, we are actively seeking to have Defence stay as part of the waterfront using Fort Hill Wharf and the old Iron Ore Wharf. That is something that we …
Mr Dunham: And driving the tanks through the suburbs. That is what is in your plan. Armaments, ammunitions …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, allow the Chief Minister to continue.
Mr Dunham: I am trying to help her out.
Ms MARTIN: If the Opposition Leader asks a question, I am assuming the member for Drysdale supports that question and wants to hear the answer?
Mr Dunham: Yes, a truthful one.
Ms MARTIN: Okay. We want to have Defence and cruise ships as part of the waterfront. An active waterfront is a very important part of this. We are having ongoing discussions with Defence about the unloading of fuel at the current Iron Ore Wharf and are confident that we will resolve those issues. There is no immediate requirement for that.
The waterfront is a decade-long project. Stage 1, which we are talking about now, is the $250m convention and exhibition centre; the seawalls and associated beach area; 140 residential units; and the hotel and car park. That is stage 1. Over the time we will be building the rest of the waterfront, we will sort through those issues which impact. We have a wonderful new fuel terminal. Vopak has been building a state-of-the-art fuel terminal across from the port, something supported by the CLP, with bipartisan support. What we want to see is the Stuart Park Fuel Farm relocated, and that will happen from August as that is the starting date. We have another inner-city development which we can then work with the community on.
Of course we want to see most of the fuel at the East Arm Port – it makes sense. We will work with Defence to achieve a resolution of all the outstanding issues. I will not pretend; we have had some difficulties over the last six months. However, I was very heartened when the HMAS Kanimbla left, and Defence Minister, Robert Hill publicly stated that he could see resolution of these issues. I shook his hand; it was terrific. Those talks with officials in Defence are continuing. The talks have the support of the minister, and I believe we will see a resolution of those issues.
This is a major project for Darwin. Of course there are going to be gritty issues to deal with. We are building for our future. We have a plan. We know where Darwin is going. I would like the opposition to share that, rather than to try to pull it down question after question after question. It is a great plan, and we will sort through the issues, such as those with Defence.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016