Mr McADAM - 2004-02-19
Will the minister update the Assembly on the government’s construction initiatives providing jobs and economic benefits for Territorians in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The answer to this question will outline some of the initiatives that are occurring in Central Australia and which are moving the Territory ahead. This government is very intent on supporting the economy of Central Australia.
As most members would be aware, the Desert Knowledge Centre represents a $20.9m investment by government …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have had the Desert Knowledge Park discussed during the railway debate, ironically, during a mini-statement this morning, and now during Question Time. I suggest this is repetitive on the part of government. It might be good news, but you have run it three times in two days.
Madam SPEAKER: No, tThere is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: If we want to be contemporary, today’s tender pages in the NT News confirm the Desert Knowledge contract valued at $1.4m being awarded to Sitzler Bros.
On page 43, under the contracts awarded by DIPE, by my calculation there are 12 companies there, and they are all Territory companies that have been awarded contracts through DIPE. I calculated a total of about $1.8m. Over half of those - seven out of the 12 - are actually Alice Springs companies. This Sitzler Bros contract fits in with that. The Chief Minister has already talked about what is a very respectable figure overall of Territory business getting contracts, although we always wanted more.
We have talked about the Ilparpa Swamp project.. Once again, a $2.3m contract was recently awarded to an Alice Springs contractor, Charmplan Pty Ltd, for construction of the pipeline from the treatment ponds to the AZRI site. In addition, government has had a $5m commitment to redeveloping Traeger Park in partnership with the town council. It is already paying dividends, and as most people in Alice Springs would be aware, the lighting towers have gone up in time for the forthcoming pre-season AFL match which will be followed, I am sure, with massive interest in the Centre. I am told that local workers said it was the largest project of this type they had worked on and they were justifiably proud of their achievement.
Earlier this year, government announced an immediate, additional investment of $3m in Central Australian roads. Two significant contracts have recently been awarded to local contractors for a total close to $1m. That is for 20 km of the Plenty Highway, and 20 km of the Tanami Road. This is in addition to the $3.4m capital works and $1.3m repairs and maintenance on the Tanami Road this year. An additional $1.8m has been allocated to boost maintenance projects, including works on the unsealed sections of Larapinta Drive, Maryvale Road, Sandover Highway and the Ringwood Road - a mixture of beef, tourism and community roads.
I talked recently about the $1.5m for the Larapinta subdivision. We spoke about that in Question Time. In short, I believe that my answer today, and the facts and figures I have given, demonstrates this government’s support for business in Alice Springs, which I believe is doing well from these government contracts.
There is one business thatwhich is also doing well in the food sector. It is a McDonald’s outlet, and it is the member for Macdonnell’s humble pie shop. In relation to Larapinta, in the Alice Springs News it says, ‘Native title acquisition - Elferink gets it wrong’, and the comment by the paper is that, ‘Mr Elferink eating humble pie’. You got it wrong, you put yourself in deeper again in what you have said here. You do not understand. Get out of the way and let government get on with developing Alice Springs and doing the right thing for the economy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The answer to this question will outline some of the initiatives that are occurring in Central Australia and which are moving the Territory ahead. This government is very intent on supporting the economy of Central Australia.
As most members would be aware, the Desert Knowledge Centre represents a $20.9m investment by government …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have had the Desert Knowledge Park discussed during the railway debate, ironically, during a mini-statement this morning, and now during Question Time. I suggest this is repetitive on the part of government. It might be good news, but you have run it three times in two days.
Madam SPEAKER: No, tThere is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: If we want to be contemporary, today’s tender pages in the NT News confirm the Desert Knowledge contract valued at $1.4m being awarded to Sitzler Bros.
On page 43, under the contracts awarded by DIPE, by my calculation there are 12 companies there, and they are all Territory companies that have been awarded contracts through DIPE. I calculated a total of about $1.8m. Over half of those - seven out of the 12 - are actually Alice Springs companies. This Sitzler Bros contract fits in with that. The Chief Minister has already talked about what is a very respectable figure overall of Territory business getting contracts, although we always wanted more.
We have talked about the Ilparpa Swamp project.. Once again, a $2.3m contract was recently awarded to an Alice Springs contractor, Charmplan Pty Ltd, for construction of the pipeline from the treatment ponds to the AZRI site. In addition, government has had a $5m commitment to redeveloping Traeger Park in partnership with the town council. It is already paying dividends, and as most people in Alice Springs would be aware, the lighting towers have gone up in time for the forthcoming pre-season AFL match which will be followed, I am sure, with massive interest in the Centre. I am told that local workers said it was the largest project of this type they had worked on and they were justifiably proud of their achievement.
Earlier this year, government announced an immediate, additional investment of $3m in Central Australian roads. Two significant contracts have recently been awarded to local contractors for a total close to $1m. That is for 20 km of the Plenty Highway, and 20 km of the Tanami Road. This is in addition to the $3.4m capital works and $1.3m repairs and maintenance on the Tanami Road this year. An additional $1.8m has been allocated to boost maintenance projects, including works on the unsealed sections of Larapinta Drive, Maryvale Road, Sandover Highway and the Ringwood Road - a mixture of beef, tourism and community roads.
I talked recently about the $1.5m for the Larapinta subdivision. We spoke about that in Question Time. In short, I believe that my answer today, and the facts and figures I have given, demonstrates this government’s support for business in Alice Springs, which I believe is doing well from these government contracts.
There is one business thatwhich is also doing well in the food sector. It is a McDonald’s outlet, and it is the member for Macdonnell’s humble pie shop. In relation to Larapinta, in the Alice Springs News it says, ‘Native title acquisition - Elferink gets it wrong’, and the comment by the paper is that, ‘Mr Elferink eating humble pie’. You got it wrong, you put yourself in deeper again in what you have said here. You do not understand. Get out of the way and let government get on with developing Alice Springs and doing the right thing for the economy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016