ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
16 February 2010
79. Water Distribution and Storage in Litchfield Council Area
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
1. How many kilometres of reticulated water are in the rural area within the borders of the Litchfield Council?
2. Which roads have reticulated water?
3. How many kilometres have ‘spaghetti’ lines delivering water?
4. Which are the roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water?
5. What is the current cost per kilometre to deliver water in the rural area?
6. What work has been undertaken to develop further reticulated water in the rural area; and, what roads have been identified for conversion from bore water to reticulated water?
7. If no work has been undertaken to identify roads that could be converted to town water, why not?
8. What plans are in place to construct and develop water storage facilities to support the proposed development of Weddell?
9. Has land been identified for proposed water storage facilities and, if so, what exact location, by locality area, road, and block identification?
10. If a private property has been identified for a water storage water facility, has compensation been negotiated and, if so, how much and to which property owners?
11. Has the government undertaken any work on the future water infrastructure requirement for the rural area within the Litchfield Council boundaries? If so, when can a report be expected and, if not, why not?
ANSWER
1. Approximately 170 km of reticulated water mains.
2. See plans at Attachment A.
3. Spaghetti lines are private facilities.
4. See plans at Attachment B.
5. It typically costs $330m to design/supply and install a 150 mm pipeline in the rural area. A 225 mm pipeline is around $450m.
6. Development of further reticulated water in the rural area is based on development applications and/or requests from existing households for extension of reticulated water.
7. The selection of bore supplies or private spaghetti mains versus reticulated water were made by land developers and private land owners at the development stage. The cost of land reflects the level of service.
8. A number of plans are in various states of development for water storage facilities to support the proposed development of Weddell and Middle Arm. These plans will be progressively developed in conjunction with the government’s finalisation of master plans for Weddell and Middle Arm.
9. A number of potential sites have been identified. Actual sites selected and developed will depend on government’s master plan for the Weddell area and industrial development in Middle Arm.
10. Any negotiations with private landholders are commercial-in-confidence.
11. The government has established processes for determining land release priorities and flow on zoning requirements. Currently, Power and Water is aware of a government review of densification in the rural areas.
27 April 2010
96. Construction Division
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the Construction Division:
1. how many employees are in the division;
2. what is the number of employees in each physical location of the division; that is, Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, etcetera;
3. in 2009, how many projects were managed by the Construction Division;
4. as of 1 April 2010, how many projects are being actively managed by the division;
5. in 2009, how many consultants and contractors had been employed by the Construction Division;
6. for each of these consultants and contractors, what was the tender process used to engage them;
7. for each of these consultants and contractors; what were the tender numbers; the scope of the project; the contracted cost; was the contract completed without additional cost; was the contract completed in the required timeliness and, if not, when was the project completed; and, was any additional work required to complete the tendered activity;
8. for each of these consultants and contractors, from where was the service delivered; that is, NT or location interstate;
9. in 2009, what was the original tendered amount for each project managed by the Construction Division;
10. what was the final cost, including any later variations and/or change of scope or cost savings for the contracts;
11. were any Northern Territory or Commonwealth personnel from other government agencies utilised for tasks related to the work of the Construction Division; if so, how many and from where;
12. what payments were made by the Construction Division in regard to personnel from any other Northern Territory or Commonwealth agency; and
13. what was the scope of work undertaken by these personnel?
ANSWER
This question requires a significant amount of effort by the agency to produce an answer that would provide the detail requested.
All agencies are involved in a lot of work in preparing for Estimates Committee hearings and, in doing so, will be collating information similar to that which has been requested.
In order to avoid unnecessary pressure and duplication by the public servants who have to provide this information, I will be prepared to answer these questions in further detail at Estimates Committee.
103. Territory Growth Towns - Infrastructure Delivery
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the delivery of infrastructure in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung, please advise what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
1. water supply;
2. waste water management (sewerage);
3. waste materials management (landfill and other waste disposal);
4. energy supply;
5. identified source and supply of construction materials;
6. community and civic facilities;
7. education and training facilities;
8. health, aged care and disability facilities;
9. recreation and sporting facilities and management of public open space;
10. public housing construction; and
11. transport and roads, both within the towns and between major centres.
ANSWER
This question has been referred to the Minister for Indigenous Development for answer.
All of the issues outlined in the question are being considered in the context of planning being conducted in line with inter-government agreements made under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
This includes:
(a) systematic collection of baseline data to describe the current situation in each town and a detailed picture of government services and infrastructure in each town, as
well as an analysis of strengths and areas for Local Implementation Plans to address; and
(b) development of Local Implementation Plans (LIPS) for each of the growth towns, developed with the assistance of Government Business Managers, Indigenous
Engagement Officers, local reference groups, shire councils and relevant Territory and Australian government agencies.
The LIPS prioritise the actions of governments and communities in each Territory growth town over the next five years and are being closely linked with shire service delivery plans and the budget processes of the Australian and Territory governments.
Detailed plans for each location are currently in preparation, with Northern Territory government input overseen by the Service Delivery Coordination Unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services.
The local implementation plans can be made available as they are endorsed by local reference groups and the partners involved, including local shires.
105. Territory Growth Towns - Essential Services
Mr GILES to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
In relation to the delivery of essential services in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
ANSWER
1.
2.
2.
106. Territory Growth Towns - Local Government Services
Mr GILES to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In relation to the delivery of local government in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in relation to local government services and management; and
2. in relation to each town, what services is the current local government body responsible for, and what services does it deliver on behalf of the Commonwealth and Territory governments?
ANSWER
1. Planning for all Territory growth towns is being carried out in line with inter-government agreements made under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
This includes:
2. Detailed plans outlining services and current service delivery arrangements for each location are currently in preparation.
110. Territory Growth Towns - Tourism Development
Mr GILES to MINISTER for TOURISM
In relation to the delivery of tourism experiences in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
ANSWER
1. Opportunities for economic development, training and employment, including tourism, are being considered for each town as a part of the development of local implementation plans for each of the growth towns.
2. All of the information requested has yet to be collated for each town. It will be made available as soon as that work is completed.
114. Defence Contracts and Industries
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for DEFENCE SUPPORT
In relation to the Defence Support portfolio, in the period from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010:
ANSWER
117. Regulated Electricity Market
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
As of 1 April 2010, legislation mandated that all customers in the regulated electricity market would be ‘contestable’:
1. how many customers in total are there in each of tranches 1 to 6;
2. what is the estimated electricity consumption in the full year 2010 for each tranche of customers;
3. what proportion of generating capacity, expressed as a percentage of available capacity, is used by Power and Water Corporation to service each tranche of customers;
4. prior to that date, had any representation been made by Power and Water Corporation to delay the implementation of contestability; and
5. what is the estimated expenditure by government on supporting electricity prices in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for residential customers?
ANSWER
1. Number of electricity customers by tranche as at 30 June 2009:
2. Forecast electricity consumption for 2009-10:
3. Approximate generation capacity utilised by each tranche. This capacity fluctuates on a daily basis according to customer loads. The approximation is based on kWh consumed by tranche (%).
4. The Utilities Commission released an Issues Paper in August 2009 surrounding the implementation of Full Retail Contestability on 1 April 2010. Power and Water responded to the commission along with a number of other key stakeholders. Power and Water supports the Northern Territory government's policies and will assist, where appropriate, the commission and Treasury during the implementation process.
5. An estimate of the amount apportioned to residential electricity customers is $23.4m in 2009-10 and $24.0m in 2010-11.
118. Road Construction – Cox Peninsula Area
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the delivery of infrastructure, in particular, the road network for the Fog Bay Road and to tender T09-1487:
2. For the road network in the Cox Peninsula/Bynoe, Dundee, Dundee Downs, Dundee Beach area in the budget year 2009-10 to 1 April 2010:
ANSWER
1. In relation to tender T09-1487:
2. Road network in the Cox Peninsula/Bynoe, Dundee, Dundee Downs, Dundee Beach area:
Litchfield Park Road – staged reconstruction and sealing Chainage (Ch) 9.3 to 14.6 km;
Fog Bay Road – upgrade and seal Ch 10.75 to 12.267 km and Ch 12.387 to 14.375 km; and
Fog Bay Road – regravel between Ch 43.26 and Ch 45.36 km.
this work is still under way;
this work is still under way;
155. Power and Water Corporation – Output Groups
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
In relation to your portfolio areas within the Power and Water Corporation, would you kindly respond to the following questions by output group in the department.
HR Unit Questions:
1. how many personnel are employed to perform human resources functions within the department? At what position level are they employed;
2. how many personnel are employed to perform or assist in the payroll functions within the department? At what position level are they employed;
3. how many instances have occurred where the department has made errors in respect to payments to or allowances for members of the department? Can you please explain these instances;
4. what interdepartmental charges are applied to managing the payroll? Is there a differential in cost for different position levels; if so, what are these differences in cost;
5. how are costs determined between departments in relation to payroll costs, including transfers and relocation of staff;
6. what is the budget of the human resources functional area of the department;
7. what is the breakdown of the human resources budget to employee payments, travel, accommodation, and training;
8. do the same staff manage executive contracts as manage non-executive staff members? If not, how many manage executive contracts and what are their position levels; and, how many manage non-executive contract staff and what are their levels;
9. how many complaints have been made in the department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment;
10. how much has been spent to date on advertising employee positions; and, can you provide a breakdown of these costs;
11. what is the attrition rate of staff in the human resources area of the department; and
12. what is the current state of employment in the human resources department; that is, are all positions filled? If not, are there any positions with staff on higher duties; if so, how many, at what level, and for how long? Are their positions vacant; if so, how many, at what level, and for how long?
Relocation Costs:
13. in 2009, how much has been spent on relocation costs for commencement of employment, and either completion or termination of employment (removalists, airfares, accommodation and allowances) in the department;
14. please provide a breakdown per business unit; and
15. how much is budgeted for relocation and other appointment and termination expenses in 2009-10?
Marketing:
16. how much was spent by the department in 2009 on advertising and marketing programs, and up to 1 April 2010; and
17. what was each of those programs; and, what was the cost of each of those programs?
Worker Turnover:
18. as of 1 April 2010, what is the current staffing of the department, by level;
19. how many of these positions were substantively filled; and, how many were filled by persons acting in positions or temporary appointments;
20. what was the rate of turnover of staff in the department in 2009;
21. what is the rate per level;
22. how many vacant positions are there in the department as a whole;
23. how long, in total days, have permanent positions been vacant in the department;
24. in relation to all vacant positions, what is the breakdown of recruitment actions by:
25. how many staff are currently employed on a temporary contract;
26. in the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many positions have been advertised by ‘expression of interest’;
27. in the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many temporary contracts have been extended, broken down by the number of times extended;
28. how many times has the department sought permission from the commissioner to extend a contract beyond a third extension;
29. if permission has been sought, what recruitment action has taken place;
30. per position level, what is the average length of time taken for recruitment from advertising to successful applicant;
31. what is the number of positions that have been filled by the recruitment of an existing public servant; and, how many from the general public;
32. in 2009, how many positions have been reclassified in the department? What are the levels of those positions;
33. how many permanent unattached employees do you have in your agency? What levels are they;
34. how much has been spent on training and skilling unattached employees? What was the training provided;
35. how many unattached employees have successfully gained nominal positions within the agency or gained employment in another agency in 2009;
36. how many have resigned;
37. what is the average cost of recruiting staff to the department;
38. how much is allocated, on average, to each staff member for training and improvement; and
39. what is the average length of stay of staff in the department? Please break this down by position level.
Leave Liabilities:
40. what is the policy of the department of carryover recreation leave; in particular, how many weeks are allowed to be carried over between years;
41. as at 1 April 2010, how many staff have more than this amount carried over; and, what is the cost of this leave being held;
42. in relation to NTPS staff, as at 1 April 2010:
43. in relation to contract, ECO1 and above, staff, as at 1 April 2010:
44. how many people received workers compensation in 2009, at what position level and geographic location; and, how long for each person;
45. as at today, how many workers are currently on workers compensation? At what level, and is there an expected return date;
46. in 2009, how many workers are or were on sick leave or extended leave, excluding recreation leave, longer than three weeks, at what level, and for what reason? Are there any still on extended leave;
47. do you have any personnel under the old Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme and, if so, what is the liability? What are the optimal retirement ages for such staff, based on superannuation benefit definitions; what are ages of those people; and, what are their position levels in the public service? If there are nurses, teachers, or police in the CSS, how many are there; at what level; and, what are their ages; and
48. do they still have NT public servants who were employed in the 1980s and eligible for a return flight to Adelaide every two years? How many, and at what level?
Entry Level Recruitment:
49. in relation to apprentices and graduates, in 2009:
50. in relation to Indigenous employees, in 2009:
Allowances:
51. in regard to employee entitlements, for 2009:
NTPS Code of Conduct:
52. how many credit cards have been issued to departmental staff;
53. how many repayment transactions, and the value, for personal items and services are outstanding;
54. how many reports of the improper use of information technology have been made; and
55. how many reports resulted in formal disciplinary action?
Insurance:
56. how much was spent on insurance expenses in 2009, further broken down by worker and employee insurances, physical plant and equipment insurances, and other insurances; and
57. what areas of the department are self-insured? What areas are commercially insured? If there are areas that are commercially insured, who provides this insurance; when is it due for renewal; and, what is the cost of this insurance provision? Does it attract any thresholds under which insurance is not provided or any payments on item replacement?
Climate Change:
58. how many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2009;
59. how many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2008;
60. what programs and strategies were introduced to reduce CO2 emissions across the department in 2009; and
61. has a target for departmental CO2 emissions been set for the coming financial year?
Vehicles:
62. how much was spent on vehicles by the department in 2009;
63. how many vehicles does the department have responsibility for;
64. what is the change, if any, in these vehicle numbers from 2008;
65. what proportion of those vehicles meet the emission standard of 5.5 out of 10 under the Commonwealth government’s Green Vehicle Guide;
66. how many vehicles are home garaged’
67. what is the policy in relation to home garaging vehicles; and
68. what position levels have vehicles attached or are allowed to home garage?
Travel and Accommodation:
69. how much was spent on travel in 2009, broken down by intrastate, interstate and international fares, accommodation, and other expenses?
Utilities:
70. what was the cost of power and water to the department in 2009; and
71. what is the projected cost for power and water to the department in 2010?
Public Events:
72. list the public events/conferences/forums that were sponsored by the department from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010; and, what are projected for 2010-11; and
73. what is the level of sponsorship provided in terms of financial support or in-kind support?
Advertising:
74. what is the department’s budget for advertising for the 2009-10 reporting year;
75. how much is year to date expenditure? Please break down into newspaper, radio and TV;
76. what advertising campaigns have been undertaken, or will be undertaken by the department, in 2009-10; and
77. in 2009, how many consultancies were let in the year; at what cost; how many were NT firms; how many interstate; and, what was the value of those intra-Territory and
those interstate?
ANSWER
The Power and Water Corporation (PWC) is an independent government-owned corporation with an independent board of directors.
PWC management attended the 2010 Estimates Committee and answered relevant questions during the GOC session.
Any further questions about the operational aspects of the corporation should be directed to the CEO.
161. Territory Housing - Stock, Rentals and Sales
Mr GILES to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
1. As of 22 April 2010:
2. For all the Territory stock of public housing:
ANSWER
1. As of 22 April 2010:
2.
10 August 2010
163. Fog Bay Road
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
As the Fog Bay Road is a piece of critical infrastructure in the Top End, would you please advise:
Capital works and maintenance:
1. the amount of funds expended on the Fog Bay Rd in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to date on maintenance and capital works;
2. the scope of the maintenance works; and
3. the scope of the capital works?
Works in 2009 and 2010:
4. in regard to works undertaken in 2009 and 2010:
Tender T09-1487:
5. in regard specifically to Tender T09-1487 awarded to Allan King and Sons Constructions Ltd:
6. what works are proposed for Fog Bay Road in the remainder of 2010 and in 2011?
ANSWER
1. Maintenance expenditure includes cyclical maintenance, specific maintenance, disaster maintenance and delivery fees:
2008 - $314 926.54 (GST exclusive);
2009 - $360 517.36 (GST exclusive); and
2010 - $236 942.68 (GST exclusive), (1 January 2010 – 5 July 2010).
2009 - $1 580 420.53 (GST exclusive); and
2010 - $396 095.17 (GST exclusive) (1 January 2010 – 5 July 2010).
2. Cyclical Maintenance for 2008, 2009 and 2010 includes litter collection, graffiti removal, minor seal repairs, pothole patching, shoulder grading, maintenance grading, slashing, tree pruning, road furniture installation/maintenance, line marking, bridge and culvert repairs, grids, fences, drainage maintenance, and floodway/causeway maintenance.
repairs to concrete crossing – Charlotte River, Chainage (Ch) 4.8 km; and
regravel various sections – Ch 44.5 km to Ch 46.0 km.
3. 2008 - upgrade and seal 4.6 km between Ch 5.9 km to 10.5 km.
4.
5.
6. There is a a 2010-11 Capital Works program item of $2.5m to upgrade and seal further sections of Fog Bay Road between Cox Peninsula to Namarada Drive (target is to continue the upgrade and sealing of a further 5 km stretch of the Fog Bay Road).
Maintenance:
rehabilitation of four floodways – Ch 27.29 km, Ch 29.21 km, Ch 35.84 km, Ch 36.94 km; and
routine maintenance and flood damage maintenance as required.
164. Registration of Taxi Drivers
Mr GILES to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
In relation to registration of drivers in the taxi industry:
1. for each of the last five years, how many taxi drivers have been given their taxi licences without holding an NT drivers licence for a minimum period of two years;
2. for each of the last five years, how many taxi drivers in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin regions:
ANSWER
1. For reasons of public safety, one of the requirements to obtain a Commercial Passenger Vehicle Identity (CPVID) card to drive a taxi is that a person must have held an NT open class ‘C’ drivers licence or interstate equivalent for two years.
(a)
(b)
3. All taxi drivers are appropriately licensed. Specific taxi driver training is provided by registered training organisations and any specific complaints may be directed to phone number 1300 654 628.
165. Ark Homes Liquidation
Mr GILES to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
In relation to Northern Projects Management Group trading as Ark Homes:
1. was Northern Projects Management Group or Ark Homes registered in the Northern Territory as a building practitioner;
2. was the department aware of the trading of Ark Homes, in particular, when was it advised that the company went into administration and/or liquidation;
3. when did the Building Practitioners Board become aware of the administration/liquidation of Ark Homes;
4. what steps did the department or the Building Practitioners Board take in relation to the changed status of the companies; and
5. what steps did the department take in relation to advising clients with building permits with Northern Projects Management or Ark Homes?
ANSWER
1. Neither Northern Projects Management Group (NPMG) nor Ark Homes are registered in the Northern Territory as a building practitioner.
2. The department was not aware of the trading of Ark Homes until the company went into liquidation in June 2010.
3. The department advised the Building Practitioners Board on 10 June 2010 that Ark Homes had gone into liquidation.
4. As neither company was registered or was required to be registered to undertake work outside of building control areas, there was no action for the department or the Building Practitioners Board to take.
5. A search of the building permits database found that there were no building permits registered under the company name or trading name. Accordingly, there is no further action for the department to take.
166. Ark Homes Contracted Works
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to Northern Projects Management Group trading as Ark Homes:
1. for 2008, 2009 and 2010, was this company contracted to do works in the Territory;
2. for each project that this company was contracted for:
3. was the department aware of the trading of Ark Homes, in particular, when was it advised that the company went into administration and/or liquidation?
ANSWER
1. Yes. Ark Homes was awarded a total of four contracts.
2.
3. The department became aware on 28 June 2010 that Ark Homes had appointed a liquidator, and was further advised on 1 July that Ernst & Young had been appointed as the receiver managers.
167. NT Correctional Services – Clinical Services Branch
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
2. what are their FTE staffing numbers;
3. are there supernumerary positions within these FTE staffing numbers and, if so, what are their qualifications; and
4. was finance for the Clinical Services Branch budgeted for in the 2009-10 budget; and, what is the budget for 2010-11?
ANSWER
During 2009, Northern Territory Correctional Services created a Clinical Services Branch to support the delivery of evidence-based, professional services that address reoffending. This foundation supports and trains clinical staff to meet quality standards, creates programs that will work in the Northern Territory, and leads efforts to reduce recidivism.
1. There were no specific costs for the establishment of the Clinical Services Branch, other than those associated with recruitment of staff.
2. FTE staffing numbers.
Within the adult correctional centres, these staff sit within the Prisoner Services areas.
In 2009-10, as at 30 June 2010, the FTE numbers for Clinical Services Branch were:
3. Supernumerary positions within the FTE staffing numbers and qualifications of those in supernumerary positions.
As at 30 June 2010, there were two supernumerary positions within the Clinical Services Branch.
Clinical Services Branch budget for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
4. The Clinical Services Branch budget in 2009-10 was $1.62m. The budget for 2010-11 is $1.87m. This figure represents the combined head office, sex offending services and Community Corrections costs, and does not represent the costs associated with clinical staff located in the adult and juvenile custodial centres.
172. Mining Operations Commencements and Mining Royalties
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for RESOURCES
1. Please provide details of all the mines included in the forward estimates and expected to be in operation within the next five years, and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
2. Please provide details of all the mines currently in operation and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
ANSWER
1. This question relates to the portfolio of the Treasurer.
2. This question relates to the portfolio of the Treasurer.
178. Darwin Port Corporation – Bulk Commodities
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
What are the details of the planning and development undertaken to provide capacity for Minemakers Limited to export bulk commodities through Darwin Port Corporation?
ANSWER
The Darwin Port Corporation is in ongoing discussion with Minemakers in respect to their potential export of rock phosphate via the East Arm Wharf from their Wonarah project.
In May 2009, the two parties signed a confidential Heads of Agreement document to ensure appropriate capacity of port infrastructure and land will be available for the export of the Wonarah product through the Port of Darwin.
The two parties continue to work closely together and terms are currently being negotiated to finalise a successful long-term arrangement for the project to proceed.
179. Fill for Darwin Port Expansion
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
When the port is expanded in accordance with current plans; how much fill will be required; and, where will it be sourced from?
ANSWER
The Darwin Port Corporation has two current reclamation projects, the Eastern Reclaim Area, which is being filled and surcharged to provide additional hard stand and cargo lay down area; and the filling of Pond F, which is located behind the main wharf and will be used to provide additional covered cargo storage areas.
Reclamation projects are managed on behalf of the corporation by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, who have a panel contract for the provision and supply of fill.
The panel contractors will be supplying naturally occurring terrestrial fill from their own private borrow pits and quarries located around the Greater Darwin Area. The Eastern Reclamation Area requires about 150000m3 of earth fill; and Pond F requires about 100 000m3 of earth/rock fill and about 200 000m3 of earth fill.
182. Belyuen and Bulman Sport and Recreation Centre Upgrades
Mr BOHLIN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
1. On 29 January 2008, the Commonwealth announced funding for the:
2. Would you kindly advise the completion date for each program and the expenditure made on these projects by the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government.
ANSWER
The Sport, Venues, and Indigenous Development Division managed these projects on behalf of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. There was no Northern Territory government funding, although a great deal in-kind was provided.
184. Treasury Corporation Management System - Review
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Minister, page 18 of the Treasury Corporation’s last Annual Report said:
ANSWER
The Treasury management system is used for recording, accounting, valuing and reporting transactional activity undertaken by NTTCorp. It is a specialised system provided by an external provider and is regularly audited by the Auditor-General.
In 2008-09, NTTCorp reviewed its Treasury management system (Quantum) to consider the benefits of an upgrade in order to maintain and/or improve system capabilities. The outcome of this exercise was completed in early 2009, which determined that an upgrade was necessary to ensure NTTCorp continued to operate with a version of the software that is supported by the vendor (SunGard).
Accordingly, an upgrade was scheduled to occur late in 2009.
In September 2009, NTTCorp initiated the implementation of the Quantum Upgrade Project. This involved a parallel run of the existing version (v4.02) with the latest release of the software (v4.5.2).
During the implementation phase, the new version of the Quantum application was tested in a separate production environment and system outputs were compared to those from the existing version. A number of issues were identified and logged with SunGard for their attention, and all were resolved prior to going live with the new version on 9 November 2009.
The major point of difference between the existing and new version of the software is the accrual accounting framework. SunGard have implemented changes to the way in which accruals are displayed for reporting purposes. A thorough review of the accrual reporting outputs was undertaken and NTTCorp was satisfied that the changes were mainly presentational and did not affect postings to the general ledger.
Since the last Quantum upgrade in 2005, there have been a number of system enhancements, offering additional functionality for front and back office deal management and reporting. NTTCorp is currently exploring how these enhancements might be utilised to improve productivity and reduce reliance on manual data input and maintenance of separate electronic data files.
The upgrade has been completed successfully and no issues have emerged.
185. Conditions of Service Reserve
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Would you please provide the value amounts at the end of each financial year for the Conditions of Service Reserve for the past decade?
ANSWER
COSR is a segregated pool of investments set aside for Northern Territory government unfunded superannuation liabilities. The valuation of these funds is affected by market conditions each year.
From 2000-01 to 2009-10, the value of COSR has increased by $234.7m, with the Northern Territory government providing an additional $150m and $20m in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.
The decline of the COSR in 2007-08 and 2008-09 was due to the effects of the global financial crisis. However, the average performance return of the COSR for the last seven years to 2009-10 is 7.8%, being higher than a market-based benchmark of 5.8%.
The value of COSR for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2009-10 is provided below:
Conditions of Service Reserve (COSR)
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Roads that have reticulated waterANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Question 2 continued
Roads that have reticulated water
Question 4
Roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water
QUESTION 79
ATTACHMENT B
Page 2 of 2
Question 4 continued
Roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water
QUESTION 161
ATTACHMENT A
Table 1: Public Housing Sales
Table 2: Public Housing Investment
Table 3: Public Housing Investment 1995-96 to 2000-01
Notes:
1. 1997-98 sales includes Yulara $15.3m.
2. A principal loan repayment of $60m was also made in 1999-2000.
79. Water Distribution and Storage in Litchfield Council Area
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
1. How many kilometres of reticulated water are in the rural area within the borders of the Litchfield Council?
2. Which roads have reticulated water?
3. How many kilometres have ‘spaghetti’ lines delivering water?
4. Which are the roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water?
5. What is the current cost per kilometre to deliver water in the rural area?
6. What work has been undertaken to develop further reticulated water in the rural area; and, what roads have been identified for conversion from bore water to reticulated water?
7. If no work has been undertaken to identify roads that could be converted to town water, why not?
8. What plans are in place to construct and develop water storage facilities to support the proposed development of Weddell?
9. Has land been identified for proposed water storage facilities and, if so, what exact location, by locality area, road, and block identification?
10. If a private property has been identified for a water storage water facility, has compensation been negotiated and, if so, how much and to which property owners?
11. Has the government undertaken any work on the future water infrastructure requirement for the rural area within the Litchfield Council boundaries? If so, when can a report be expected and, if not, why not?
ANSWER
1. Approximately 170 km of reticulated water mains.
2. See plans at Attachment A.
3. Spaghetti lines are private facilities.
4. See plans at Attachment B.
5. It typically costs $330m to design/supply and install a 150 mm pipeline in the rural area. A 225 mm pipeline is around $450m.
- On average, this equates to between $30 000 and $40 000 per property for installation of reticulated water, excluding headworks costs.
6. Development of further reticulated water in the rural area is based on development applications and/or requests from existing households for extension of reticulated water.
7. The selection of bore supplies or private spaghetti mains versus reticulated water were made by land developers and private land owners at the development stage. The cost of land reflects the level of service.
- If landholders wish to extend reticulated water, they may apply to Power and Water Corporation. Power and Water will develop a proposal for extension, but the extension must be fully funded by existing landholders. This is consistent with landholders purchasing land with reticulated water, which is included in the developed land price.
8. A number of plans are in various states of development for water storage facilities to support the proposed development of Weddell and Middle Arm. These plans will be progressively developed in conjunction with the government’s finalisation of master plans for Weddell and Middle Arm.
9. A number of potential sites have been identified. Actual sites selected and developed will depend on government’s master plan for the Weddell area and industrial development in Middle Arm.
- A major ground level storage facility is currently proposed on Crown land adjacent to the Stuart Highway Cox Peninsula turn-off, and potentially along Jenkins Road. A range of smaller elevated tank sites are under active consideration.
10. Any negotiations with private landholders are commercial-in-confidence.
11. The government has established processes for determining land release priorities and flow on zoning requirements. Currently, Power and Water is aware of a government review of densification in the rural areas.
- Power and Water does not have a master plan to extend water and sewerage infrastructure into the rural areas. Development is dependent on finalisation of government land release strategies, local council planning, and also in response to private development applications.
27 April 2010
96. Construction Division
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the Construction Division:
1. how many employees are in the division;
2. what is the number of employees in each physical location of the division; that is, Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, etcetera;
3. in 2009, how many projects were managed by the Construction Division;
4. as of 1 April 2010, how many projects are being actively managed by the division;
5. in 2009, how many consultants and contractors had been employed by the Construction Division;
6. for each of these consultants and contractors, what was the tender process used to engage them;
7. for each of these consultants and contractors; what were the tender numbers; the scope of the project; the contracted cost; was the contract completed without additional cost; was the contract completed in the required timeliness and, if not, when was the project completed; and, was any additional work required to complete the tendered activity;
8. for each of these consultants and contractors, from where was the service delivered; that is, NT or location interstate;
9. in 2009, what was the original tendered amount for each project managed by the Construction Division;
10. what was the final cost, including any later variations and/or change of scope or cost savings for the contracts;
11. were any Northern Territory or Commonwealth personnel from other government agencies utilised for tasks related to the work of the Construction Division; if so, how many and from where;
12. what payments were made by the Construction Division in regard to personnel from any other Northern Territory or Commonwealth agency; and
13. what was the scope of work undertaken by these personnel?
ANSWER
This question requires a significant amount of effort by the agency to produce an answer that would provide the detail requested.
All agencies are involved in a lot of work in preparing for Estimates Committee hearings and, in doing so, will be collating information similar to that which has been requested.
In order to avoid unnecessary pressure and duplication by the public servants who have to provide this information, I will be prepared to answer these questions in further detail at Estimates Committee.
103. Territory Growth Towns - Infrastructure Delivery
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the delivery of infrastructure in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung, please advise what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
1. water supply;
2. waste water management (sewerage);
3. waste materials management (landfill and other waste disposal);
4. energy supply;
5. identified source and supply of construction materials;
6. community and civic facilities;
7. education and training facilities;
8. health, aged care and disability facilities;
9. recreation and sporting facilities and management of public open space;
10. public housing construction; and
11. transport and roads, both within the towns and between major centres.
ANSWER
This question has been referred to the Minister for Indigenous Development for answer.
All of the issues outlined in the question are being considered in the context of planning being conducted in line with inter-government agreements made under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
This includes:
(a) systematic collection of baseline data to describe the current situation in each town and a detailed picture of government services and infrastructure in each town, as
well as an analysis of strengths and areas for Local Implementation Plans to address; and
(b) development of Local Implementation Plans (LIPS) for each of the growth towns, developed with the assistance of Government Business Managers, Indigenous
Engagement Officers, local reference groups, shire councils and relevant Territory and Australian government agencies.
The LIPS prioritise the actions of governments and communities in each Territory growth town over the next five years and are being closely linked with shire service delivery plans and the budget processes of the Australian and Territory governments.
Detailed plans for each location are currently in preparation, with Northern Territory government input overseen by the Service Delivery Coordination Unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services.
The local implementation plans can be made available as they are endorsed by local reference groups and the partners involved, including local shires.
105. Territory Growth Towns - Essential Services
Mr GILES to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
In relation to the delivery of essential services in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
- (a) water supply;
(b) waste water management (sewerage);
(c) energy supply;
- (a) what is the currently available power generation capacity in MW; and
(b) what is the current water supply capacity in ML per day?
ANSWER
1.
- (a) Power and Water has been working with the Department of Local Government and Housing (DLGH) and the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program on the capacity assessment of water infrastructure in the SIHIP communities and the Territory growth towns.
- Water supply infrastructure assessments have been undertaken by the alliance partners and their relevant engineering partner in Maningrida, Wadeye, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra.
- For the remaining communities that SIHIP is proposing to implement housing (including Hermannsburg, Yuendumu, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Ngukurr and Numbulwar), engineering consultants GHD and Aurecon are in the process of finalising condition assessment investigations of existing water supply infrastructure. The scope of work of this work includes: condition assessment and needs identification; preliminary options identification and assessment; and concept design, preliminary costing and risk assessment of preferred option.
- The design is based on population growth and condition assessment.
A high level hydrogeological study has been undertaken for all of the SIHIP communities and growth towns. For the initial packages, the SIHIP alliances will be undertaking drilling works and, in the remaining SIHIP communities, drilling work will be contracted directly with a hydrogeological professional services company. The purpose of this is to finalise investigations and manage the construction of a groundwater drilling program.
- Provisional scopes of work have been prepared to undertake the investigations necessary to complete the planning in these remaining growth towns.
- Table 1: Matrix of Growth Towns and SIHIP communities.
| SIHIP Communities | Growth Towns |
|
| Ali Curung |
| Angurugu | Angurugu |
| Borroloola | |
|
| Dagaragu/Kalkarindji |
|
| Elliott |
| Galiwinku | Galiwinku |
| Gapuwiyak |
| Gunbalanya |
| Hermannsburg |
| Lajamanu |
| Maningrida |
| Millingimbi |
| Milyakburra | |
| Nguiu | Nguiu |
| Ngukurr |
| Numbulwar |
| Papunya | |
|
| Ramingining |
| Umbakumba | Umbakumba |
| Wadeye | Wadeye |
| Yirrkala |
| Yuendumu |
- (b) As a component of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program, planning studies of the wastewater infrastructure in 15 of the identified growth towns have been completed by alliance partners. These growth towns are Maningrida, Wadeye, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu, Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Ramingining and Hermannsburg.
- The investigations have included:
- a review of the condition and the capacity of wastewater infrastructure which currently exists at each growth town, including sewerage reticulation, sewer pump
stations, wastewater treatment plants and effluent disposal infrastructure;
an assessment of the infrastructure risks at each growth town;
to 2030.
- The treatment and disposal of wastewater in all 20 identified growth towns will be managed according to the Wastewater Management Strategy, which is currently being developed by Power and Water. This strategy will outline the operating, maintenance and monitoring objectives for managing wastewater treatment and disposal in all 20 identified growth towns, and a further 46 remote Indigenous communities. The Wastewater Management Strategy will aim to provide an integrated approach to wastewater management, with a focus on protecting public health, minimising environmental impact, and ensuring sustainability of the entire water cycle from catchment to catchment.
- Power and Water, on behalf of the NT government, is currently retrofitting reticulated sewerage to the major residential and commercial areas of Borroloola. Part of these works include expansion of the wastewater treatment infrastructure (sewerage ponds and effluent disposal), and new collection and distribution network. Planning for these works has accommodated options for orderly expansion required for growth. Infrastructure upgrades required to facilitate town camps development forms part of the SIHIP program.
- Currently, Elliott is serviced by on-site treatment through individual septic tanks. The need to move to a reticulated sewerage network and centralised sewerage treatment forms part of the current risk assessment work on the borefield expansion plans.
- (c) Power and Water has undertaken load forecasting for each of the growth towns, taking into account the expected increase in demand associated with planned new infrastructure and services. Based on this forecasting, Power and Water has determined timing of new energy infrastructure upgrades, giving consideration to capacity requirements for the power stations and distribution networks.
- Recent upgrades to growth town infrastructure have included expansion of power station buildings, increased generation capacity, and fuel storage facilities and distribution augmentation. There is sufficient energy infrastructure capacity to meet load for the foreseeable future across all locations.
- In addition to this targeted energy planning for the growth towns, Power and Water undertakes economic analysis annually to identify the most cost-efficient future energy source option for each growth town and Indigenous community serviced by Power and Water. This analysis allows Power and Water to determine the energy source option that will provide necessary capacity and reliability requirements as well as enable new technologies to be evaluated as they emerge.
2.
- (a) The currently available power generation capacity in MW:
| Territory 20 Growth Towns | Installed Generation Capacity (MW) |
| Borroloola | 3.2 |
| Elliott | 1.7 |
| Wadeye | 4.0 |
| Nguiu | 4.9 |
| Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) (L) | 3.6 |
| Galiwinku | 3.6 |
| Yuendumu (L) | 2.6 |
| Kalkarindji (L) | 1.7 |
| Gapuwiyak (L) | 1.9 |
| Hermannsburg (L) | 1.2 |
| Lajamanu (L) | 1.9 |
| Maningrida | 4.8 |
| Milingimbi (L) | 2.4 |
| Ngukurr (L) | 3.4 |
| Numbulwar (L) | 1.6 |
| Papunya (L) | 1.1 |
| Ramingining (L) | 1.6 |
| Umbakumba (L) | 1.0 |
| Territory 20 Growth Towns | Installed Generation Capacity (MW) |
| Yirrkala (L) | Grid connected |
| Ali Curung (L) | Grid connected |
| Angurugu (L) | Grid connected |
| Daguragu | Grid connected |
| Total generation capacity Growth Towns | 46.2 MW |
2.
- (b) The current water supply capacity in ML per day:
Territory 20 Growth Towns | Water Capacity ML/day |
| Borroloola | 2.6 |
| Elliott | 1.6 |
| Wadeye | 3.5 |
| Nguiu | 1.9 |
| Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) (L) | 1.2 |
| Galiwinku | 1.1 |
| Yuendumu (L) | 2.7 |
| Kalkarindji (L)/Daguragu | TBA |
| Gapuwiyak (L) | 1.4 |
| Hermannsburg (L) | 1.0 |
| Lajamanu (L) | 3.3 |
| Maningrida | 2.5 |
| Milingimbi (L) | 1.5 |
| Ngukurr (L) | 2.5 |
| Numbulwar (L) | 1.2 |
| Papunya (L) | TBA |
| Ramingining (L) | TBA |
| Umbakumba (L) | 0.7 |
| Angurugu | 1.2 |
| Yirrkala (L) | 3.8 |
| Ali Curung (L) | TBA |
106. Territory Growth Towns - Local Government Services
Mr GILES to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In relation to the delivery of local government in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in relation to local government services and management; and
2. in relation to each town, what services is the current local government body responsible for, and what services does it deliver on behalf of the Commonwealth and Territory governments?
ANSWER
1. Planning for all Territory growth towns is being carried out in line with inter-government agreements made under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
This includes:
- (a) systematic collection of baseline data to underpin and establish a basis for measuring change for each of the growth towns.
- These reports, providing a range of demographic, social and economic indicators, will describe the current situation in each town and a detailed picture of government services and infrastructure in each town, as well as an analysis of strengths and areas for local implementation plans to address; and
(b) development of Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) for each of the growth towns being developed with the assistance of Government Business Managers, Indigenous Engagement Officers, local reference groups, shire councils and relevant Territory and Australian government agencies.
- The LIPs prioritise the actions of governments and communities in each Territory growth town over the next five years and are being closely linked to shire service delivery plans and the budget processes of the Australian and Territory governments.
2. Detailed plans outlining services and current service delivery arrangements for each location are currently in preparation.
- Each plan for each site will differ according to the history, current practice and needs of each site.
- The baseline data informing the plans, and local implementation plans, are being developed with the direct involvement of local shires.
- Local implementation plans can be made available as they are endorsed by local reference groups and the partners involved, including local shires.
110. Territory Growth Towns - Tourism Development
Mr GILES to MINISTER for TOURISM
In relation to the delivery of tourism experiences in Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. what planning has been put in place to answer the needs of the proposed growth towns in each of the following areas:
- (a) tourism;
- (b) employment;
(d) training?
- (c) what is the status of privately-accessible accommodation, in terms of available beds;
(d) what is the current annual expenditure on tourism-related experiences; and
(e) how many businesses and/or individuals deliver tourism experiences?
ANSWER
1. Opportunities for economic development, training and employment, including tourism, are being considered for each town as a part of the development of local implementation plans for each of the growth towns.
- The local implementation plans can be made available as they are endorsed by local reference groups and the partners involved, including local shires.
2. All of the information requested has yet to be collated for each town. It will be made available as soon as that work is completed.
114. Defence Contracts and Industries
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for DEFENCE SUPPORT
In relation to the Defence Support portfolio, in the period from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010:
- (a) how many Defence-related contracts greater than $1m were awarded to Northern Territory-based suppliers;
(b) how many organisations have taken up space or entered into agreements to do so in the Defence Support Hub;
(c) what has been the expenditure of the division on the Defence Support Hub; and
(d) how many CDU graduates have been assisted into training for Defence-related industries?
ANSWER
- (a) Such request should be directed to the Department of Defence, as the issuing agency for such contracts;
- (b) the Land Development Corporation and the Department of Business and Employment have received formal registrations of interest from six businesses and are engaging in commercial discussions with other prospective tenants;
- (c) the Defence Support Division has spent $22 132 on Defence Support Hub-related activities during the specified period; and
- (d) responsibility for training does not fall within the portfolio responsibility of Defence Support.
117. Regulated Electricity Market
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
As of 1 April 2010, legislation mandated that all customers in the regulated electricity market would be ‘contestable’:
1. how many customers in total are there in each of tranches 1 to 6;
2. what is the estimated electricity consumption in the full year 2010 for each tranche of customers;
3. what proportion of generating capacity, expressed as a percentage of available capacity, is used by Power and Water Corporation to service each tranche of customers;
4. prior to that date, had any representation been made by Power and Water Corporation to delay the implementation of contestability; and
5. what is the estimated expenditure by government on supporting electricity prices in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for residential customers?
ANSWER
1. Number of electricity customers by tranche as at 30 June 2009:
Tranche | Count |
T1 | 32 |
T2 | 21 |
T3 | 22 |
T4 | 103 |
T5 | 591 |
T6 | 72 202 |
Total | 72 971 |
2. Forecast electricity consumption for 2009-10:
Tranche | Forecast (kWh) |
T1 | 427 728 529 |
T2 | 44 941 683 |
T3 | 64 760 399 |
T4 | 145 053 688 |
T5 | 9 185 203 |
T6 | 1 122 148 891 |
Total | 1 813 818 391 |
3. Approximate generation capacity utilised by each tranche. This capacity fluctuates on a daily basis according to customer loads. The approximation is based on kWh consumed by tranche (%).
Tranche | Capacity (%) | Capacity (MW) |
| T1 | 25 | 128 |
| T2 | 3 | 14 |
| T3 | 2 | 13 |
| T4 | 7 | 35 |
| T5 | 9 | 44 |
| T6 | 54 | 273 |
Total | 1.00 | 507 |
4. The Utilities Commission released an Issues Paper in August 2009 surrounding the implementation of Full Retail Contestability on 1 April 2010. Power and Water responded to the commission along with a number of other key stakeholders. Power and Water supports the Northern Territory government's policies and will assist, where appropriate, the commission and Treasury during the implementation process.
5. An estimate of the amount apportioned to residential electricity customers is $23.4m in 2009-10 and $24.0m in 2010-11.
118. Road Construction – Cox Peninsula Area
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to the delivery of infrastructure, in particular, the road network for the Fog Bay Road and to tender T09-1487:
- (a) when did the works commence;
(b) was the successful tender quoted price $1 050 352 and, if so, what is the actual/estimated final completion cost;
- (c) why did the works not get completed before the Wet Season;
- (d) what work was done on the design and, in particular, why is the upgrade and sealing of roads which cross natural water paths made without culverts or passageways so the watercourses do not have washouts in the future;
- (e) what works have been completed in relation to the project estimate of $2m in Budget Paper No 4, page 50? Is this consistent with the works of T09-1487;
- (f) can you please advise when the 4.5 km of upgrade and seal of the Fog Bay Road is going to be completed;
- (g) what will be the cost of other services in delivering the 4.5 km of upgrade, such as project management, planning, design, auditing, review and any other expenses, both internal and external of government; and
- (h) is tender T09-1938 being issued to complete, supplement or redo the works of T09-1487 and, if not, what is the scope of the works for that tender?
2. For the road network in the Cox Peninsula/Bynoe, Dundee, Dundee Downs, Dundee Beach area in the budget year 2009-10 to 1 April 2010:
- (a) what tenders for road maintenance and road construction were issued;
- (b) what was the tendered price for each;
- (c) what was the actual or estimated cost for each; and
(d) was each completed project finished within the expected time frame?
ANSWER
1. In relation to tender T09-1487:
(a) the contract commenced on 1 October 2009;
- (b) the contract was let in the amount of $1 050 351.60. The estimated final completion cost is $1 050 351.60;
- (c) the contract was not due to be completed prior to the onset of the Wet Season;
(d) all design work is done by qualified civil engineers;
- (e) twenty per cent of $2m has been expended this financial year – this includes expenditure associated with Tender T09-1487;
(f) the contract is due for completion in July 2010;
(g) the DCI has no knowledge of costs incurred by other agencies and external organisations; and
(h) tender T09-1938 was issued for rehabilitation of pavement and floodway construction on Milne Road.
2. Road network in the Cox Peninsula/Bynoe, Dundee, Dundee Downs, Dundee Beach area:
- (a) there were four specific works contracts let during 2009-10:
Litchfield Park Road – staged reconstruction and sealing Chainage (Ch) 9.3 to 14.6 km;
Fog Bay Road – upgrade and seal Ch 10.75 to 12.267 km and Ch 12.387 to 14.375 km; and
Fog Bay Road – regravel between Ch 43.26 and Ch 45.36 km.
- (b) Respectively, the contracts were let for the following amounts:
- $2 463 139.69;
$2 831 125.08;
$1 050 351.60; and
$ 167 100.00.
- (c) Respectively, the estimated/actual cost for each is:
- $2 463 139.69 (estimated);
$3 004 375.08 (estimated);
$1 050 351.60 (estimated); and
$ 167 100.00 (actual).
(d) Respectively,
this work is still under way;
this work is still under way;
155. Power and Water Corporation – Output Groups
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
In relation to your portfolio areas within the Power and Water Corporation, would you kindly respond to the following questions by output group in the department.
HR Unit Questions:
1. how many personnel are employed to perform human resources functions within the department? At what position level are they employed;
2. how many personnel are employed to perform or assist in the payroll functions within the department? At what position level are they employed;
3. how many instances have occurred where the department has made errors in respect to payments to or allowances for members of the department? Can you please explain these instances;
4. what interdepartmental charges are applied to managing the payroll? Is there a differential in cost for different position levels; if so, what are these differences in cost;
5. how are costs determined between departments in relation to payroll costs, including transfers and relocation of staff;
6. what is the budget of the human resources functional area of the department;
7. what is the breakdown of the human resources budget to employee payments, travel, accommodation, and training;
8. do the same staff manage executive contracts as manage non-executive staff members? If not, how many manage executive contracts and what are their position levels; and, how many manage non-executive contract staff and what are their levels;
9. how many complaints have been made in the department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment;
10. how much has been spent to date on advertising employee positions; and, can you provide a breakdown of these costs;
11. what is the attrition rate of staff in the human resources area of the department; and
12. what is the current state of employment in the human resources department; that is, are all positions filled? If not, are there any positions with staff on higher duties; if so, how many, at what level, and for how long? Are their positions vacant; if so, how many, at what level, and for how long?
Relocation Costs:
13. in 2009, how much has been spent on relocation costs for commencement of employment, and either completion or termination of employment (removalists, airfares, accommodation and allowances) in the department;
14. please provide a breakdown per business unit; and
15. how much is budgeted for relocation and other appointment and termination expenses in 2009-10?
Marketing:
16. how much was spent by the department in 2009 on advertising and marketing programs, and up to 1 April 2010; and
17. what was each of those programs; and, what was the cost of each of those programs?
Worker Turnover:
18. as of 1 April 2010, what is the current staffing of the department, by level;
19. how many of these positions were substantively filled; and, how many were filled by persons acting in positions or temporary appointments;
20. what was the rate of turnover of staff in the department in 2009;
21. what is the rate per level;
22. how many vacant positions are there in the department as a whole;
23. how long, in total days, have permanent positions been vacant in the department;
24. in relation to all vacant positions, what is the breakdown of recruitment actions by:
- (a) selection process commenced; and
(b) selection process, including position advertising, not commenced;
25. how many staff are currently employed on a temporary contract;
26. in the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many positions have been advertised by ‘expression of interest’;
27. in the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many temporary contracts have been extended, broken down by the number of times extended;
28. how many times has the department sought permission from the commissioner to extend a contract beyond a third extension;
29. if permission has been sought, what recruitment action has taken place;
30. per position level, what is the average length of time taken for recruitment from advertising to successful applicant;
31. what is the number of positions that have been filled by the recruitment of an existing public servant; and, how many from the general public;
32. in 2009, how many positions have been reclassified in the department? What are the levels of those positions;
33. how many permanent unattached employees do you have in your agency? What levels are they;
34. how much has been spent on training and skilling unattached employees? What was the training provided;
35. how many unattached employees have successfully gained nominal positions within the agency or gained employment in another agency in 2009;
36. how many have resigned;
37. what is the average cost of recruiting staff to the department;
38. how much is allocated, on average, to each staff member for training and improvement; and
39. what is the average length of stay of staff in the department? Please break this down by position level.
Leave Liabilities:
40. what is the policy of the department of carryover recreation leave; in particular, how many weeks are allowed to be carried over between years;
41. as at 1 April 2010, how many staff have more than this amount carried over; and, what is the cost of this leave being held;
42. in relation to NTPS staff, as at 1 April 2010:
- (a) what is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave. What is the financial value of that leave;
- (b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each position level;
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
- (d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009?
43. in relation to contract, ECO1 and above, staff, as at 1 April 2010:
- (a) what is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave? What is the financial value of that leave;
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each employee level;
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009, at each employee level;
44. how many people received workers compensation in 2009, at what position level and geographic location; and, how long for each person;
45. as at today, how many workers are currently on workers compensation? At what level, and is there an expected return date;
46. in 2009, how many workers are or were on sick leave or extended leave, excluding recreation leave, longer than three weeks, at what level, and for what reason? Are there any still on extended leave;
47. do you have any personnel under the old Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme and, if so, what is the liability? What are the optimal retirement ages for such staff, based on superannuation benefit definitions; what are ages of those people; and, what are their position levels in the public service? If there are nurses, teachers, or police in the CSS, how many are there; at what level; and, what are their ages; and
48. do they still have NT public servants who were employed in the 1980s and eligible for a return flight to Adelaide every two years? How many, and at what level?
Entry Level Recruitment:
49. in relation to apprentices and graduates, in 2009:
- (a) how many graduates started with the department;
- (b) how many have completed the year;
(c) how many have won nominal positions;
- (d) how many have left the NTG, what was the time each stayed within the NTG before leaving; and
- (e) how much sick leave has been taken on average by graduates and apprentices;
50. in relation to Indigenous employees, in 2009:
- (a) how many employees do you have in your department that recognise themselves as Indigenous;
(b) what are the levels of their positions held;
- (c) how many at each level;
- (d) how many are tenured and at what level;
(e) how many are temporary and at what level;
- (f) how many are acting up in positions and at what level;
- (g) how many have completed the year;
(h) how many have left the NTG; and
- (i) how much sick leave was taken, on average?
Allowances:
51. in regard to employee entitlements, for 2009:
- (a) In addition to salary, how much was paid in employee allowances;
- (b) what are these allowances, to what level do they apply, what is the annual estimated cost; and
- (c) do these allowances attract the 9% Superannuation Guarantee Levy and, if so, which allowances?
NTPS Code of Conduct:
52. how many credit cards have been issued to departmental staff;
53. how many repayment transactions, and the value, for personal items and services are outstanding;
54. how many reports of the improper use of information technology have been made; and
55. how many reports resulted in formal disciplinary action?
Insurance:
56. how much was spent on insurance expenses in 2009, further broken down by worker and employee insurances, physical plant and equipment insurances, and other insurances; and
57. what areas of the department are self-insured? What areas are commercially insured? If there are areas that are commercially insured, who provides this insurance; when is it due for renewal; and, what is the cost of this insurance provision? Does it attract any thresholds under which insurance is not provided or any payments on item replacement?
Climate Change:
58. how many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2009;
59. how many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2008;
60. what programs and strategies were introduced to reduce CO2 emissions across the department in 2009; and
61. has a target for departmental CO2 emissions been set for the coming financial year?
- (a) If yes, what percentage reduction is that from 2009; and
- (b) If no, why has a target not been set?
Vehicles:
62. how much was spent on vehicles by the department in 2009;
63. how many vehicles does the department have responsibility for;
64. what is the change, if any, in these vehicle numbers from 2008;
65. what proportion of those vehicles meet the emission standard of 5.5 out of 10 under the Commonwealth government’s Green Vehicle Guide;
66. how many vehicles are home garaged’
67. what is the policy in relation to home garaging vehicles; and
68. what position levels have vehicles attached or are allowed to home garage?
Travel and Accommodation:
69. how much was spent on travel in 2009, broken down by intrastate, interstate and international fares, accommodation, and other expenses?
Utilities:
70. what was the cost of power and water to the department in 2009; and
71. what is the projected cost for power and water to the department in 2010?
Public Events:
72. list the public events/conferences/forums that were sponsored by the department from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010; and, what are projected for 2010-11; and
73. what is the level of sponsorship provided in terms of financial support or in-kind support?
Advertising:
74. what is the department’s budget for advertising for the 2009-10 reporting year;
75. how much is year to date expenditure? Please break down into newspaper, radio and TV;
76. what advertising campaigns have been undertaken, or will be undertaken by the department, in 2009-10; and
77. in 2009, how many consultancies were let in the year; at what cost; how many were NT firms; how many interstate; and, what was the value of those intra-Territory and
those interstate?
ANSWER
The Power and Water Corporation (PWC) is an independent government-owned corporation with an independent board of directors.
PWC management attended the 2010 Estimates Committee and answered relevant questions during the GOC session.
Any further questions about the operational aspects of the corporation should be directed to the CEO.
161. Territory Housing - Stock, Rentals and Sales
Mr GILES to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
1. As of 22 April 2010:
- (a) how many Territory Housing properties, by postcode location, are occupied by residents who are employees or consultants to:
- (b) for each of the properties occupied by these residents, what is:
- (i) the average market rent; and
- (ii) the average actual rent collected?
2. For all the Territory stock of public housing:
- (a) please provide a list of acquisitions and sales of all Territory Housing properties by date and location, book value for each disposed of property, and sale price of each property for the years 2001 to 2009 inclusive.
(b) where did the proceeds of all sales go; and
(c) if funds from sales where retained by Territory Housing, please identify the amount that was retained in each of the years 2001 to 2009?
ANSWER
1. As of 22 April 2010:
- (a) an applicant’s employer may become known through the proof of income process, but these details are not retained on the database. The identity of an applicant’s employer is irrelevant to whether someone receives a tenancy;
(b) section 23 of the Housing Act states that the minister for Housing may determine the rent to be paid on public housing dwellings. This determination follows an annual review of market rents with reference to an independent report produced by the Australian Valuation Office. Territory Housing charge rent per household based on the gross household income; however, this will vary if Commonwealth rental subsidies are applicable.
2.
- (a) Records currently indicate that a total of 764 public housing dwellings were sold from July 2001 to June 2009 (see Attachment A, Table 1). This compares to the 2036 public housing dwellings sold between July 1995 to June 2001.
- (b) and (c)
- All funds generated from the sale of public housing are reinvested in public housing through the construction of new dwellings and redevelopment, upgrade or maintenance of existing properties. Over the last nine years, more then $286m has been invested in public housing across the Territory. This is almost double the proceeds from the sale of public housing properties over the same period (see Attachment A, Table 2).
- By way of comparison, the previous government sold $248.2 m in housing stock from 1995-96 to 2000-01, and only reinvested $128.5m back into public housing (see Attachment A, Table 3).
10 August 2010
163. Fog Bay Road
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
As the Fog Bay Road is a piece of critical infrastructure in the Top End, would you please advise:
Capital works and maintenance:
1. the amount of funds expended on the Fog Bay Rd in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to date on maintenance and capital works;
2. the scope of the maintenance works; and
3. the scope of the capital works?
Works in 2009 and 2010:
4. in regard to works undertaken in 2009 and 2010:
- (a) what creek and stream crossings have been worked on;
(b) what was done on each crossings, were any natural streams/creeks realigned;
(c) what was the cost of the realignment;
(d) how much was saved by realignment;
(e) have the changes worked; and
(f) If they have not worked, what are the proposed changes, the cost to remediate and what is the completion time frame?
Tender T09-1487:
5. in regard specifically to Tender T09-1487 awarded to Allan King and Sons Constructions Ltd:
- (a) when did the contract go out;
(b) what was the criteria of the tender;
(c) why did the road cut through natural waterways;
(d) why were the works done in the Wet Season;
(e) were the works done damaged by rain and stream flow and have to be reworked;
(f) were there any variations to this tender and, if so, what were they; and
(g) what was the total final cost, and did this include a payment for remedial work?
6. what works are proposed for Fog Bay Road in the remainder of 2010 and in 2011?
ANSWER
1. Maintenance expenditure includes cyclical maintenance, specific maintenance, disaster maintenance and delivery fees:
2008 - $314 926.54 (GST exclusive);
2009 - $360 517.36 (GST exclusive); and
2010 - $236 942.68 (GST exclusive), (1 January 2010 – 5 July 2010).
2009 - $1 580 420.53 (GST exclusive); and
2010 - $396 095.17 (GST exclusive) (1 January 2010 – 5 July 2010).
- Note that the expenditures include delivery fees of 10% for disaster maintenance and 14% for all other maintenance.
2. Cyclical Maintenance for 2008, 2009 and 2010 includes litter collection, graffiti removal, minor seal repairs, pothole patching, shoulder grading, maintenance grading, slashing, tree pruning, road furniture installation/maintenance, line marking, bridge and culvert repairs, grids, fences, drainage maintenance, and floodway/causeway maintenance.
Disaster Maintenance 2008 includes pavement repairs, drainage repairs, sign repairs, scour repairs and washout repairs after storm damage.
Specific Maintenance 2008:
repairs to concrete crossing – Charlotte River, Chainage (Ch) 4.8 km; and
regravel various sections – Ch 44.5 km to Ch 46.0 km.
- Specific Maintenance 2009 – re-gravel between Ch 43.26 km and Ch 45.36.
3. 2008 - upgrade and seal 4.6 km between Ch 5.9 km to 10.5 km.
2009 - upgrade and seal 3.5 km between Ch 10.75 km to 12.267 km and Ch 12.387 to 14.375 km.
4.
- (a) Lenny Creek in the 2009 upgrade and seal contract, Ch 5.9 km to 10.5 km contract, excluding major creek crossings. The current upgrade contract, 10.75 km to 12.267 km and 12.387 km to 14.375 km does not have a stream crossing works.
(b) Construction of a new causeway on a realigned section of Fog Bay Road including rock protection work at Lenny Creek and diversion drainage works to channel the creek and surrounding flood areas into the crossing. The natural stream was partially realigned to flow through the new causeway, but this was of a minor nature.
(c) Both the 2009 and 2010 contracts had considerable road realignments throughout their respective lengths. The Lenny Creek crossing was on a realigned section. It is difficult to apportion all associated costs to the Lenny Creek crossing as items such as establishment, traffic control, clearing, environment management and survey were scheduled as items for the whole contract.
(d) Not known. The realignments in both the 2009 and 2010 contracts were necessary to achieve the required road geometry to achieve a design speed of 100 km/h. Sealing the existing alignments of the road would have resulted in a potentially dangerous situation at tight bends, sharp crests, and speed restrictions would have to be imposed throughout. The cost of accidents and fatalities may be high and may far outweigh the cost of realignment. The department designs to Austroads guidelines and for 100 km/h design speed limit when rural roads are upgraded to sealed conditions. This requirement often requires realignments to achieve the required road geometry.
(e) Yes, the sealed roads are safer to drive on and accidents have decreased. Annual maintenance has decreased dramatically. The crossing at Lenny Creek has issues with the approach roads in that there is some premature deformation of the pavement due to underlying water problems. This is being investigated and scoped so that repairs can be undertaken.
(f) The failure at the Lenny Creek crossing is being investigated and once the scope of repairs is compiled, the work will be undertaken. Costs and time frame for repair is not known at this time.
5.
- (a) The contract was awarded on 6 October 2009.
- (b) The tender was to upgrade and seal Fog Bay Road between Annie River and Leviathan Creek – Ch 10.750 km to Ch 12.267 km and Ch 12.387 km to
Ch 14.375 km.
(c) Rocky Creek lies at Ch 12.267 km to 12.387 km and is not in the scope of work.
- (d) The contract was advertised on 13 August 2009 for four weeks; it closed on 9 September 2009; and the contract was awarded on 6 October 2009, with an original completion date of 7 January 2010. The advertising date was delayed due to late receiving of appropriate project clearances for the project. The contractor also delayed mobilisation to site until the first week in November, due to other commitments, production was slow in the first month. If the contractor adhered to the original construction program to complete the works by 7 January 1010, then 80% of the works would have been completed by the start of heavy rains in mid–December. At that stage, drainage works and the road formation would have been completed, including pavement gravelling.
- (e) The work was partly damaged by a significant flood at Coda Road, being approximately 250 metres south of the Annie Creek crossing. The flood was of a very high intensity and came from a location not generally known as a flood area and resulted in damage to the new road formation and considerable scouring of the table drain all the way to Annie Creek. The damage was repaired by filling with approximate 500m3 of rock and fill, which was funded from the Disaster Maintenance 2010 at a cost of about $58 900 (GST exclusive);
- Remaining damage on the new alignment was carried out by the contractor at their own cost. Two additional culverts were required in the vicinity of Coda Road to take the water through the road formation to outfall into waterways.
- (f) The installation of the culverts at Coda Road a cost of $65 000. Gabion drop structures and levee banks for the table drain between Coda Road and Annie Creek to improve the drainage issues in the area at a cost of $10 000. No other variations have been ordered for the contract.
- (g) The contract is due for completion end July 2010, and so a final cost is not known. The final variation will be a full measure-up of final quantities for the schedule of rates contract. The final payment will include all variations ordered, including the full measure-up of quantities. It will not include the repair work paid for under flood damage.
6. There is a a 2010-11 Capital Works program item of $2.5m to upgrade and seal further sections of Fog Bay Road between Cox Peninsula to Namarada Drive (target is to continue the upgrade and sealing of a further 5 km stretch of the Fog Bay Road).
- These works will be tendered in conjunction with the balance of 2009-10 program (approx $0.8m) to upgrade and seal the Fog Bay Road section between Barramundi Drive and Marlin Road (approximate Chainages 44.4 km to 51.3 km);
- There is an ongoing program to seal Fog Bay Road over several years, and future stages funding will be considered for future Capital Works Programs; and
- The current upgrade and sealing works do not include immunity improvements to the Charlotte River, Annie Creek, Rocky Creek and Leviathan River, which will be targeted in future years after completion of the sealing of the road.
Maintenance:
rehabilitation of four floodways – Ch 27.29 km, Ch 29.21 km, Ch 35.84 km, Ch 36.94 km; and
routine maintenance and flood damage maintenance as required.
164. Registration of Taxi Drivers
Mr GILES to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
In relation to registration of drivers in the taxi industry:
1. for each of the last five years, how many taxi drivers have been given their taxi licences without holding an NT drivers licence for a minimum period of two years;
2. for each of the last five years, how many taxi drivers in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin regions:
- (a) have been issued a temporary taxi licence; and
ANSWER
1. For reasons of public safety, one of the requirements to obtain a Commercial Passenger Vehicle Identity (CPVID) card to drive a taxi is that a person must have held an NT open class ‘C’ drivers licence or interstate equivalent for two years.
- An exemption provision to this requirement is available on a case by case basis (usually for overseas licence holders taking up residency in the NT) whereby the person may be issued an interim taxi CPVID card with a condition of being restricted to driving for a nominated operator until they have completed the two years driving experience. The nominated operator is required to submit written confirmation agreeing to support the person during the period.
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| 0 years | 1 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| 1 years | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 17 |
| Total | 2 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 37 |
- A provisional CPVID card is issued for up to six months, during which time that person is expected to complete the training and 220 hours on the job training.
(a)
 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
ASP | 12 | 22 | 31 | 27 | 41 |
DWN | 89 | 82 | 121 | 90 | 140 |
GOV | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
KAT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
TCK | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 114 | 108 | 152 | 127 | 212 |
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
ASP | 5 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 22 |
DWN | 45 | 13 | 46 | 32 | 73 |
GOV | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
KAT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
TCK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 56 | 25 | 64 | 54 | 114 |
165. Ark Homes Liquidation
Mr GILES to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
In relation to Northern Projects Management Group trading as Ark Homes:
1. was Northern Projects Management Group or Ark Homes registered in the Northern Territory as a building practitioner;
2. was the department aware of the trading of Ark Homes, in particular, when was it advised that the company went into administration and/or liquidation;
3. when did the Building Practitioners Board become aware of the administration/liquidation of Ark Homes;
4. what steps did the department or the Building Practitioners Board take in relation to the changed status of the companies; and
5. what steps did the department take in relation to advising clients with building permits with Northern Projects Management or Ark Homes?
ANSWER
1. Neither Northern Projects Management Group (NPMG) nor Ark Homes are registered in the Northern Territory as a building practitioner.
2. The department was not aware of the trading of Ark Homes until the company went into liquidation in June 2010.
3. The department advised the Building Practitioners Board on 10 June 2010 that Ark Homes had gone into liquidation.
4. As neither company was registered or was required to be registered to undertake work outside of building control areas, there was no action for the department or the Building Practitioners Board to take.
5. A search of the building permits database found that there were no building permits registered under the company name or trading name. Accordingly, there is no further action for the department to take.
166. Ark Homes Contracted Works
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
In relation to Northern Projects Management Group trading as Ark Homes:
1. for 2008, 2009 and 2010, was this company contracted to do works in the Territory;
2. for each project that this company was contracted for:
- (a) what were the works;
(b) what was the value of the works;
(c) how were the works funded (by Commonwealth and Northern Territory government contributions);
(d) were the works completed, or was a variation required for completion;
(e) of the variations required for works completion, what was the variation, or expected or negotiated variation, including the price and the detail of works in the variation;
(f) who was the program manager, and who was the project manager for these works; and
3. was the department aware of the trading of Ark Homes, in particular, when was it advised that the company went into administration and/or liquidation?
ANSWER
1. Yes. Ark Homes was awarded a total of four contracts.
2.
- (a) Yuendumu – four dwellings; Ntaria – five dwellings. Provision of government employee housing.
- The tender was let for $2 206 082 and funded by the Northern Territory government.
- (b) Lot 115 Galiwinku – construct one x tropical two-bedroom duplex and demolish one existing building.
- The tender was let for $893 000 and funded by the Northern Territory government.
- (c) Borroloola – design, document, construct and handover of government employee townhouses.
- The tender was let for $2 908 687.10 and funded by the Northern Territory government.
- (d) Maningrida, Minjilang, Milingimbi – design and construct new government employee dwellings.
- The tender was let for $1 768 527.20 and funded by the Northern Territory government.
The Department of Construction and Infrastructure managed these tenders.
3. The department became aware on 28 June 2010 that Ark Homes had appointed a liquidator, and was further advised on 1 July that Ernst & Young had been appointed as the receiver managers.
167. NT Correctional Services – Clinical Services Branch
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
2. what are their FTE staffing numbers;
3. are there supernumerary positions within these FTE staffing numbers and, if so, what are their qualifications; and
4. was finance for the Clinical Services Branch budgeted for in the 2009-10 budget; and, what is the budget for 2010-11?
ANSWER
During 2009, Northern Territory Correctional Services created a Clinical Services Branch to support the delivery of evidence-based, professional services that address reoffending. This foundation supports and trains clinical staff to meet quality standards, creates programs that will work in the Northern Territory, and leads efforts to reduce recidivism.
1. There were no specific costs for the establishment of the Clinical Services Branch, other than those associated with recruitment of staff.
2. FTE staffing numbers.
- Clinical Services Branch consists of clinical and project staff distributed across NTCS head office and the relevant operational areas:
Within the adult correctional centres, these staff sit within the Prisoner Services areas.
In 2009-10, as at 30 June 2010, the FTE numbers for Clinical Services Branch were:
Location |
|
| Head Office and Sex Offending Services | 5.57 |
| Alice Springs Correctional Centre | 2 |
| Darwin Correctional Centre | 11 |
| Community Corrections | 3.8 |
| Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre | 2 |
| Total | 24.37 |
3. Supernumerary positions within the FTE staffing numbers and qualifications of those in supernumerary positions.
As at 30 June 2010, there were two supernumerary positions within the Clinical Services Branch.
- Of these positions, one was held by a staff member possessing a Masters in Psychology, while the other position holder possessed a Masters in Social Work.
Clinical Services Branch budget for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
4. The Clinical Services Branch budget in 2009-10 was $1.62m. The budget for 2010-11 is $1.87m. This figure represents the combined head office, sex offending services and Community Corrections costs, and does not represent the costs associated with clinical staff located in the adult and juvenile custodial centres.
172. Mining Operations Commencements and Mining Royalties
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for RESOURCES
1. Please provide details of all the mines included in the forward estimates and expected to be in operation within the next five years, and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
2. Please provide details of all the mines currently in operation and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
ANSWER
1. This question relates to the portfolio of the Treasurer.
2. This question relates to the portfolio of the Treasurer.
178. Darwin Port Corporation – Bulk Commodities
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
What are the details of the planning and development undertaken to provide capacity for Minemakers Limited to export bulk commodities through Darwin Port Corporation?
ANSWER
The Darwin Port Corporation is in ongoing discussion with Minemakers in respect to their potential export of rock phosphate via the East Arm Wharf from their Wonarah project.
In May 2009, the two parties signed a confidential Heads of Agreement document to ensure appropriate capacity of port infrastructure and land will be available for the export of the Wonarah product through the Port of Darwin.
The two parties continue to work closely together and terms are currently being negotiated to finalise a successful long-term arrangement for the project to proceed.
179. Fill for Darwin Port Expansion
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
When the port is expanded in accordance with current plans; how much fill will be required; and, where will it be sourced from?
ANSWER
The Darwin Port Corporation has two current reclamation projects, the Eastern Reclaim Area, which is being filled and surcharged to provide additional hard stand and cargo lay down area; and the filling of Pond F, which is located behind the main wharf and will be used to provide additional covered cargo storage areas.
Reclamation projects are managed on behalf of the corporation by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, who have a panel contract for the provision and supply of fill.
The panel contractors will be supplying naturally occurring terrestrial fill from their own private borrow pits and quarries located around the Greater Darwin Area. The Eastern Reclamation Area requires about 150000m3 of earth fill; and Pond F requires about 100 000m3 of earth/rock fill and about 200 000m3 of earth fill.
182. Belyuen and Bulman Sport and Recreation Centre Upgrades
Mr BOHLIN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
1. On 29 January 2008, the Commonwealth announced funding for the:
- (a) Belyuen Sport and Recreation Hall and Football Oval;
(b) Pirlangimpi Sport and Recreation Centre upgrades;
2. Would you kindly advise the completion date for each program and the expenditure made on these projects by the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government.
ANSWER
The Sport, Venues, and Indigenous Development Division managed these projects on behalf of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. There was no Northern Territory government funding, although a great deal in-kind was provided.
| Project | Date Completed | A-G Budget | Expenditure |
| Belyuen football oval | January 2010 | $100 000 | $89 624 |
| Pirlangimpi sport and rec centre upgrades | June 2009 | $70 000 | $65 140 |
| Bulman sport and rec centre renovations | December 2009 | $130 000 | $116 002 |
184. Treasury Corporation Management System - Review
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Minister, page 18 of the Treasury Corporation’s last Annual Report said:
- The Corporation’s registry services were put out to tender in April 2009. In June 2009, the contract was awarded to Link Market Services (Link). A data migration project from the current providers, Computershare Investor Services, to Link will take place with a parallel run of services occurring in July and August 2009. The new contract with Link is effective from 1 September 2009.
ANSWER
The Treasury management system is used for recording, accounting, valuing and reporting transactional activity undertaken by NTTCorp. It is a specialised system provided by an external provider and is regularly audited by the Auditor-General.
In 2008-09, NTTCorp reviewed its Treasury management system (Quantum) to consider the benefits of an upgrade in order to maintain and/or improve system capabilities. The outcome of this exercise was completed in early 2009, which determined that an upgrade was necessary to ensure NTTCorp continued to operate with a version of the software that is supported by the vendor (SunGard).
Accordingly, an upgrade was scheduled to occur late in 2009.
In September 2009, NTTCorp initiated the implementation of the Quantum Upgrade Project. This involved a parallel run of the existing version (v4.02) with the latest release of the software (v4.5.2).
During the implementation phase, the new version of the Quantum application was tested in a separate production environment and system outputs were compared to those from the existing version. A number of issues were identified and logged with SunGard for their attention, and all were resolved prior to going live with the new version on 9 November 2009.
The major point of difference between the existing and new version of the software is the accrual accounting framework. SunGard have implemented changes to the way in which accruals are displayed for reporting purposes. A thorough review of the accrual reporting outputs was undertaken and NTTCorp was satisfied that the changes were mainly presentational and did not affect postings to the general ledger.
Since the last Quantum upgrade in 2005, there have been a number of system enhancements, offering additional functionality for front and back office deal management and reporting. NTTCorp is currently exploring how these enhancements might be utilised to improve productivity and reduce reliance on manual data input and maintenance of separate electronic data files.
The upgrade has been completed successfully and no issues have emerged.
185. Conditions of Service Reserve
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Would you please provide the value amounts at the end of each financial year for the Conditions of Service Reserve for the past decade?
ANSWER
COSR is a segregated pool of investments set aside for Northern Territory government unfunded superannuation liabilities. The valuation of these funds is affected by market conditions each year.
From 2000-01 to 2009-10, the value of COSR has increased by $234.7m, with the Northern Territory government providing an additional $150m and $20m in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.
The decline of the COSR in 2007-08 and 2008-09 was due to the effects of the global financial crisis. However, the average performance return of the COSR for the last seven years to 2009-10 is 7.8%, being higher than a market-based benchmark of 5.8%.
The value of COSR for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2009-10 is provided below:
Conditions of Service Reserve (COSR)
2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
$000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 |
158 607 | 148 177 | 144 224 | 166 348 | 194 924 | 233 919 | 421 908 | 403 757 | 345 246 | 393 357 |
ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
QUESTION 79
ATTCHMENT A
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Question 2 ATTCHMENT A
Page 1 of 2
Roads that have reticulated waterANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
QUESTION 79
ATTACHMENT A
Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT A
Page 2 of 2
Question 2 continued
Roads that have reticulated water
QUESTION 79
ATTACHMENT B
Page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENT B
Page 1 of 2
Question 4
Roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water
QUESTION 79
ATTACHMENT B
Page 2 of 2
Question 4 continued
Roads that have spaghetti lines delivering water
QUESTION 161
ATTACHMENT A
Table 1: Public Housing Sales
Financial Year | Total Sale Price $000 | Number of Dwellings |
| 2001-02 | 18 028 | 139 |
| 2002-03 | 14 179 | 159 |
| 2003-04 | 18 977 | 109 |
| 2004-05 | 20 046 | 106 |
| 2005-06 | 20 811 | 116 |
| 2006-07 | 22 176 | 66 |
| 2007-08 | 17 525 | 38 |
| 2008-09 | 11 081 | 31 |
| Total | 142 823 | 764 |
Table 2: Public Housing Investment
Financial Year | Capital Works Expenditure | Repairs and Maintenance $000 | Total Investment $000 |
| New Construction | Upgrades/Minor New Works | |
| Dwellings | $000 | $000 |
| 2001-02 | 68 | 7 722 | 7 66719 69435 083 |
| 2002-03 | 56 | 8 610 | 7 43414 22630 270 |
| 2003-04 | 0 | 0 | 13 88417 54231 426 |
| 2004-05 | 40 | 7 554 | 20 76015 70944 023 |
| 2005-06 | 6 | 981 | 9 51412 15822 653 |
| 2006-07 | 0 | 0 | 14 48312 77327 256 |
| 2007-08 | 0 | 0 | 17 69813 06930 767 |
| 2008-09 | 0 | 0 | 17 95913 85331 812 |
| Total | 170 | 24 867 | 109 399119 024253 290 |
Table 3: Public Housing Investment 1995-96 to 2000-01
Financial Year | Sales | Capital Works | Repairs and Maintenance | Total Investment | Number of Sales |
| $000 | $000 | $000 | $000 | |
| 1995-96 | 19 692 | 0 | 13 362 | 13 362 | 179 |
| 1996-97 | 21 194 | 0 | 10 254 | 10 254 | 166 |
| 1997-981 | 44 522 | 0 | 14 948 | 14 948 | 298 |
| 1998-99 | 90 609 | 11 909 | 12 539 | 24 448 | 781 |
| 1999-002 | 50 787 | 12 951 | 14 288 | 27 239 | 172 |
| 2000-01 | 21 419 | 22 529 | 15 695 | 38 224 | 440 |
| Total | 248 223 | 47 389 | 81 086 | 128 475 | 2036 |
Notes:
1. 1997-98 sales includes Yulara $15.3m.
2. A principal loan repayment of $60m was also made in 1999-2000.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016