Mr MILLS - 2004-11-30
Is the model on public display a true and accurate representation of exactly what will be built on the city waterfront development? What is the total number of buildings planned to be built over the life of the development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have not been down and counted all the buildings. I can give you an idea of what is there. I keep on getting, from these questions that the Opposition Leader has not actually been down and had a look. The Opposition Leader asked for a briefing from the preferred developers, which was inappropriate and he should have understood that, because those are commercial negotiations that are happening, quite appropriately.
One of the members of that consortium has been very critical of the attitude being displayed by the opposition, and of the bagging of the project that we have seen over the last week - orchestrated largely by the opposition. It was good to see Steve Margetic come out on behalf of Sitzlers and say: ‘This is a great tropical project and one that will really benefit the Territory’. How many buildings are there?
Mr Dunham: And is the model accurate?
Ms MARTIN: The model is accurate – to one in 500. I also say that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, just cease. Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning! We have put up with your persistent interjections for long enough.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the model is accurate. It has been verified in its accuracy, both by the architects, Hassells, who are responsible for its design, and also by someone with the qualifications to do it – I have forgotten the terminology for that.
Importantly, is this public consultation process and, as I said in my last answer, the hotel and car park that are in front of the Bridgeport development below the escarpment is being discussed. Therefore, if you are going to ask to me if it is absolutely accurate and is this what will happen, no, there are bits that are being discussed, and I have been quite up-front about that. However, what you see in the model is the shape of the proposed development.
I say to the Opposition Leader: we have a convention and exhibition centre there to the east of the waterfront area. The exhibition centre is 4000 m2 in space, and the plenary session for the convention centre is 1500 people. That is that building. Towards Stokes Hill …
Mr Elferink: That is building No 1, what else is there?
Ms MARTIN: … there is a restaurant which is probably going to be some kind of seafood restaurant. Coming back, we have two enclosed pools, a beach, a wave pool …
Mr Elferink: Is that two or three buildings?
Ms MARTIN: … we have a hotel and car park …
Mr Baldwin: That is three.
Ms MARTIN: On the waterfront there is the Darwin Experience and there is a restaurant next to that.
Members:Four, five.
Ms MARTIN: What is the point of this? Showing you how ridiculous it is that you should come in here and ask me to detail all the buildings.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I will keep going. I am happy to keep going. We are just talking about Stage 1. I will just give you Stage 1. We are about halfway through it now.
There is the elevated footpath to the Avenue of Honour, which takes you through to the CBD. Then you have the first finger walk, which is residence, but also some professional suites and restaurants and, maybe, some shops to do with maritime activity. That, generally, is the shape of Stage 1.
I can go on to Stage 2, but going further into this is – you agree, Madam Speaker? - a fairly pointless exercise.
Madam SPEAKER: We are having very long answers.
Ms MARTIN: He did ask.
Madam SPEAKER: I know. I think we have had enough.
Ms MARTIN: Can I just say that the opposition should obtain the information that we are making readily available.
Madam SPEAKER: That is enough.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have not been down and counted all the buildings. I can give you an idea of what is there. I keep on getting, from these questions that the Opposition Leader has not actually been down and had a look. The Opposition Leader asked for a briefing from the preferred developers, which was inappropriate and he should have understood that, because those are commercial negotiations that are happening, quite appropriately.
One of the members of that consortium has been very critical of the attitude being displayed by the opposition, and of the bagging of the project that we have seen over the last week - orchestrated largely by the opposition. It was good to see Steve Margetic come out on behalf of Sitzlers and say: ‘This is a great tropical project and one that will really benefit the Territory’. How many buildings are there?
Mr Dunham: And is the model accurate?
Ms MARTIN: The model is accurate – to one in 500. I also say that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, just cease. Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning! We have put up with your persistent interjections for long enough.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the model is accurate. It has been verified in its accuracy, both by the architects, Hassells, who are responsible for its design, and also by someone with the qualifications to do it – I have forgotten the terminology for that.
Importantly, is this public consultation process and, as I said in my last answer, the hotel and car park that are in front of the Bridgeport development below the escarpment is being discussed. Therefore, if you are going to ask to me if it is absolutely accurate and is this what will happen, no, there are bits that are being discussed, and I have been quite up-front about that. However, what you see in the model is the shape of the proposed development.
I say to the Opposition Leader: we have a convention and exhibition centre there to the east of the waterfront area. The exhibition centre is 4000 m2 in space, and the plenary session for the convention centre is 1500 people. That is that building. Towards Stokes Hill …
Mr Elferink: That is building No 1, what else is there?
Ms MARTIN: … there is a restaurant which is probably going to be some kind of seafood restaurant. Coming back, we have two enclosed pools, a beach, a wave pool …
Mr Elferink: Is that two or three buildings?
Ms MARTIN: … we have a hotel and car park …
Mr Baldwin: That is three.
Ms MARTIN: On the waterfront there is the Darwin Experience and there is a restaurant next to that.
Members:Four, five.
Ms MARTIN: What is the point of this? Showing you how ridiculous it is that you should come in here and ask me to detail all the buildings.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I will keep going. I am happy to keep going. We are just talking about Stage 1. I will just give you Stage 1. We are about halfway through it now.
There is the elevated footpath to the Avenue of Honour, which takes you through to the CBD. Then you have the first finger walk, which is residence, but also some professional suites and restaurants and, maybe, some shops to do with maritime activity. That, generally, is the shape of Stage 1.
I can go on to Stage 2, but going further into this is – you agree, Madam Speaker? - a fairly pointless exercise.
Madam SPEAKER: We are having very long answers.
Ms MARTIN: He did ask.
Madam SPEAKER: I know. I think we have had enough.
Ms MARTIN: Can I just say that the opposition should obtain the information that we are making readily available.
Madam SPEAKER: That is enough.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016