Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 1965 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Questions [25 MARCH] Questions 2879 THUR~AY, 25 MARCH, 1965 (3) "Leslie Dam, 209; Coolmunda Dam, 70; Wuruma Dam, 30." Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson, ( 4) "Technical assistance only, 634; Murrumba} read prayers and took the chair technical and financial assistance, 173 ." at 11 a.m. QUESTIONS TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT SCHOOL CROSS­ INGS.-Mr. Sherrington, pursuant to notice, GRIT-ARRESTER, TOWNSVILLE POWER- asked The Minister for Mines,- HOUSE.-Mr. Aikens, pursuant to notice, ( 1) How many pedestrian-actuated lights asked The Minister for Industrial Develop­ have been installed at school crossings in n1ent,- the metropolitan area? (1) Is he aware of the report in The Courier-Mail of March 12, which said that (2) How many applications have been the Southern Electric Authority is spending received from school organisations for the £250,000 on new grit-arrester equipment at installation of these lights? the Tennyson powerhouse, Brisbane? (3) How many of these have been (2) If so, how much does the Northern accepted or rejected and how many are Electric Authority propose to spend on new awaiting decision? grit-arrester equipment at the powerhouse ( 4) Has any survey of metropolitan on Murder Island, Townsville? school crossings been carried out to ascer­ tain the desirability of providing this safe­ Answers:- guard? ( I) "Yes." (2) "Expenditure at the Central Gener­ Answers:- ating Station in Townsville on grit-arrester (1) "Twenty-nine sets installed." equipment and other measures taken to (2) "About eighty applications." control grit emission now totals £65,000. I am informed that, as a result of this, (3) "Sixty-four sites have been rejected grit emission has been considerably reduced as being well below the warrant." to a level lower than other powerhouses of similar type in Australia, and that no (4) "Yes. Two surveys have been further expenditure is contemplated at made-one to check conditions and one to this stage." check the accident records. The latter survey indicates that, where traffic lights are installed in locations that do not meet DAM AND WEIR CONSTRUCTION.-Mr. the warrant, school patrols offer greater Newton, pursuant to notice, asked The protection than traffic lights." Minister for Local Government,- ( 1) What is the number of Dams and Weirs under construction in the State by TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT BALD HILLS SCHOOL his Department as at February 28, 1965? CRossiNG.-Mr. Lee for Mr. Campbell, pur­ suant to notice, asked The Minister for (2) Of these, how many are being built Mines,- by (a) private contractors and (b) day­ ( 1) Has his attention been drawn to a labour? news item in The Courier-Mail of March (3) What is the number of employees, 22, 1965, that the Main Roads Depart­ including all trades and clerical staff, ment will install pedestrian traffic lights employed on such projects as at February in Gympie Road near Bald Hills school 28, 1965? and that the Works Committee of Brisbane City Council last week approved of the ( 4) What is the number of applications installation? received by his Department for assistance under the Farm Water Supplies Assistance (2) Have not pedestrian traffic lights Act from July 12, 1964, to February 28, been operating near this school for several 1965? months? Answers:- (3) Why is it considered necessary to install a second set of pedestrian traffic ( 1) "Excluding Calli de Dam, on which lights in the vicinity of this school? work by the contractors has been com­ pleted recently, the Commission has three dams, namely Leslie, Coolmunda and Answers:- Wuruma Dams, under construction." ( I) "Yes." (2) (a) "Major components of Cool­ (2) "Yes. The pedestrian traffic lights munda Dam will be constructed by con­ at the Bald Hills school crossing have tract with overall Commission co-ordina­ been operating since August, 1964." tion and some day labour work. (b) Leslie and Wuruma Dams are being built by (3) "A second set is not being installed. day labour, with some contract work." How the report originated I cannot say." 2880 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions COMMUNIST INFILTRATION IN SUGAR surpassed frequently in the past on occa­ INDUSTRY.-Mr. Lee for Mr. Campbell pur­ sions when the resultant interference to suant to notice, asked The Ministe~ for commercial navigation proved to be negli­ Labour and Industry,- gible. I do not anticipate any serious As statements have been made from interference with commercial water trans­ time to time by various persons, including port from the present movement of statements by Mr. Edgar Williams, the hyacinth but I will have the matter Branch Secretary of the Australia Workers' watched. I would point out to the Union, that Communist infiltration is now Honourable Member that the constant bed taking place in the sugar industry, for the of infestation for the tidal reaches of the purpose of disrupting it, has he in his River is the tributaries, creeks and lagoons possession any information to support these above tidal influence not subject to the allegations? jurisdiction of the Department of Harbours and Marine. The eradication of that Answer:- infestation is a matter for the Local "! regret to say that the Government Authority under the Local Government ~a~ such information in its possession, but Acts." It IS not proposed to disclose details. How­ ever, I quote one instance, which is the case of a member of tl!e Communist Party, POLICE INVESTIGATION, DISTURBANCE IN who was employed With a certain under­ SERPENTINE ROAD, PINKENBA.-Mr. Melloy, taking for many years. Recently, he pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for received a direction from his Communist Education,- Party bosses to leave his employment, and ( 1) Is he aware that following a dis­ to take up employment in a certain sugar turbance and assault in Serpentine Road, mill. It is understood the person con­ Pinkenba, on the afternoon of March 18, cerned was very unhappy at receiving such the victim telephoned the Valley police a direction to leave his former employment, and was instructed to lodge his complaint but apparently he was not strong enough with the Hamilton police who advised to defy the party. The reasons for such a him the matter would be dealt with as direction to this person to seek employ­ soon as possible? ment in the sugar industry, I am sure are obvious to all Honourable Members. (2) As no apparent action has been Reliable information is also to hand that taken, will he take appropriate steps to the rebel C.M.C. Group is endeavouring expedite the enquiry into this matter? to c~us~ disruption in the sugar industry, and It Is understood that certain members (3) Will he also ensure adequate police of the A.W.U. at one sugar mill have are available in that area to carry out decided to defy the A.W.U. Executive and immediate investigation of any similar support the move which was proposed by happening in the future? the Communist dominated Queensland Trades and Labour Council for a twenty­ Answer:- four hour stopl?age. I am happy to say, "The facts of the incident have been however, that, m three other mills in this ascertained and it has been reported that particular area where similar attempts were a statement was made to the Hamilton made, they were unsuccessful." police by a man at Pinkenba. The person who made the report to the Hamilton police now claims that he wanted the ERADICATION OF HYACINTH ON BREMER police to see a man about an incident of AND BRISBANE RrvERS.-Mr. Donald. pur­ alleged abuse to his wife, but the police suant to notice, asked The Treasurer,_:_ constable who received the report at As the growth of hyacinth on the Hamilton, reports that the man concerned Bremer River and on the Redbank reach stated he did not want any police action of the Brisbane River is threatening naviga­ in the matter and was only reporting the tion, will the Department of Harbours and incident so that the police would know Marine take the necessary action to rid his side of the story, in the event of the the rivers of this pest before it seriously other party to relevant incidents making a interferes with transport on them? complaint to the police about him. Although both police on duty at Hamilton at the material time were called upon to Answer:- undertake special measures in relation to "As I informed the Honourable Member a search for a missing child, action could in Answer to his Question of October 24, have been taken to have the report from 1962, the problem of hyacinth infestation Pinkenba investigated, had it been made is a recurring one. It reaches a peak clear by the man reporting to the police, after long periods of low flow in the river that he desired police action in the matter. and its tributaries. Flooding of the streams The police staff at Hamilton is considered allevi~tes the position. It is my under­ adequate for normal requirements in the standmg that the present level of hyacinth Division and additional staff from outside infestation in the upper reaches of the that Division can be made available when Brisbane and Bremer Rivers has been required." Questions [25 MARCH] Questions 2881 WEST BARRATTA BRIDGE.-Mr. Coburn, (3) "Mr. Evans issued instructions in pursuant to notice, asked The Minister for September, 1964, for design work to be Mines,- expedited. The instruction has been carried Further to the Answer to my Question out and the scheme is almost ready for on October 14, 1964, relative to the com­ discussion with the Brisbane City Council.