Questions & Answers Paper No

6255 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2003-06 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-THIRD PARLIAMENT ___________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 164 WEDNESDAY 1 MARCH 2006 ___________ (The Questions and Answers Paper is published for each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting day and any new questions. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) 6256 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 1 March 2006 Q. & A. No. 154 13 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 4887 to 4937) Q. & A. No. 155 14 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 4938 to 4978) Q. & A. No. 156 15 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 4979 to 5045) Q. & A. No. 157 20 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 5046 to 5078) Q. & A. No. 158 21 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 5079 to 5107) Q. & A. No. 159 22 December 2005 (Including Question Nos 5108 to 5151) Q. & A. No. 160 3 January 2006 (Including Question Nos 5152 to 5183) Q. & A. No. 161 4 January 2006 (Including Question Nos 5184 to 5213) Q. & A. No. 162 5 January 2006 (Including Question Nos 5214 to 5319) Q. & A. No. 163 19 January 2006 (Including Question Nos 5320 to 5346) Q. & A. No. 164 4 April 2006 (Including Question Nos 5347 to 5384) 6257 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 1 March 2006 Notice of Question given on the date shown 15 NOVEMBER 2005 (Paper No. 157) *5046 WATER LEAKS—Mr Roberts to Minister for Police, and Minister for Utilities— (1) During the period 1 July 2004 through to 1 November 2005, how many water leaks has Sydney Water investigated in the following Local Government Areas: (a) Lane Cove; (b) Hunters Hill; (c) Ryde? (2) How many of these leaks were from pipes owned by Sydney Water? Answer— Sydney Water has advised: (1) The information provided is based on leaks reported to Sydney Water from 1 July 2004 to 31 October 2005. Lane Cove Hunters Hill Ryde Total 386 140 1,130 (2) Lane Cove Hunters Hill Ryde Total 138 43 521 *5047 RECORDED INCIDENTS—Mr Roberts to Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, and Minister for State Development— (1) How many incidents were recorded at: (a) Artarmon Railway Station; and (b) St Leonard’s Railway Station, in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005? (2) How many people were arrested and charged with offences arising from incidents at: (a) Artarmon Railway Station; and (b) St Leonard’s Railway Station, in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005? Answer— I am advised: (1) and (2) RailCorp obtains statistics on recorded criminal incidents occurring on Rail Premises from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). *5048 CREMORNE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE—Mrs Skinner to Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Health— How much is allocated in recurrent funding to operate the Cremorne Community Mental Health Service this financial year, ie 2005-06, and how much was allocated in each of the previous five years? 6258 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 1 March 2006 Answer— The Minister for Health advises me: The Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service advises that the allocation of recurrent funding for Cremorne Community Mental Health Centre for 2005/06 is $993,962. This is a record allocation and builds on annual increases over the previous five years as indicated below: Financial Year Funding 2000/01 $730,244 2001/02 $739,778 2002/03 $763,174 2003/04 $879,314 2004/05 $880,072 *5049 NEEDLE EXCHANGE—Mrs Skinner to Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Health— How many syringes were distributed as part of the needle exchange program each year for the last five years? Answer— The Minister for Health advises me: Needle and syringe programs are the most effective means at our disposal to combat the spread of blood borne infections through injecting drug use. I am advised that approximately 12.4 million units of injecting equipment were distributed in 2000/01; 10.3 million in 2001/02; 9.1 million in 2002/03; 9 million in 2003/04 and 8.9 million in 2004/05. *5050 TAKE-HOME METHADONE—Mrs Skinner to Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Health— What measures have you adopted to ensure people on methadone treatment do not stockpile take-home doses which then become a risk to children? Answer— The Minister for Health has advised: Information regarding the Opioid Treatment Program, and controls on the provision of methadone takeaway doses is publicly available on the NSW Health website. The address is www.health.nsw.gov.au. *5051 NORTH-WEST RAIL LINK ROUTE—Mr Pringle to Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, and Minister for State Development— When does the Minister expect that the exact route of the North-West Rail Line will be finalised? Answer— I refer the Honourable Member to the press release issued by the former Premier on 9 June 2005 and my press release of 10 November 2005. 6259 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 1 March 2006 *5052 ACT HEALTH SYSTEM—Mr Constance to Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for Health— (1) How much money is provided to the ACT health system to cater for NSW patients each year? (2) What was the cost for 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001? (3) How many NSW patients from the Bega electorate utilised hospitals in the ACT health system in 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001? (4) How many orthopedic operations took place in the ACT involving NSW patients? Answer— The Minister for Health advises me: (1) and (2) I am advised that the net cost applicable for the 5 financial years in question for NSW residents treated in the ACT is as follows: $M 2000/01 44.1 2001/02 43.9 2002/03 46.3 2003/04 54.0 2004/05 55.8 (estimate only – final costs have yet to be determined) (3) The Greater Southern Area Health Service has advised that the number of Bega electorate residents with recorded admissions to ACT public hospitals, for the year in question, is as follows: • 2001 – 587 residents recorded 947 admissions; • 2002 – 612 residents recorded 995 admissions; • 2003 – 619 Bega residents recorded 979 admissions; • 2004 – 418 Bega residents recorded 604 admissions; and • 2005 (January to June) – 114 residents recorded 143 admissions. (4) I am advised that according to data supplied by the ACT, there were 1,176 orthopaedic operations (as defined by the Australian Refined Orthopedic Diagnostic Related groups) in the ACT involving NSW patients in 2003/04. The ACT will provide NSW Health with data for 2004/05 early in the new year. *5053 FORSTERS BAY BOATSHED—Mr Constance to Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for the Arts, representing the Minister for Justice, Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Lands, and Minister for Rural Affairs— What is being done to rectify the problem facing Mrs Pat Holden who holds a lease on a boatshed at Forsters Bay, Narooma? Answer— I am advised that Mrs Holden does not hold a lease. Rather, she holds a licence under the Crown Lands Act 1989 that authorises her use of a boatshed and other structures, being a jetty and a slipway, which have been erected on Crown land. Mrs Holden has erected additional structures on Crown land without authorisation. She has been advised by the Department of Lands that these unauthorised structures could remain pending a review of the entire Forsters Bay foreshore. This review entails a statutory assessment of the affected Crown lands to identify suitable land uses and provide a basis for rational land allocation in accordance with the Principles of Crown Land Management as set out in the Crown Lands Act. The draft assessment is expected to be placed on public exhibition by February 2006. *5054 PRINCES HIGHWAY—Mr Constance to Minister for Roads— (1) When will the overtaking lane be constructed at Victoria Creek on the Princes Highway? (2) What is the plan to build a new bridge at Batemans Bay on the Princes Highway? 6260 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 1 March 2006 Answer— (1) I am advised that an overtaking lane at Mystery Bay, is programmed for the 2006/07 financial year. (2) A new bridge at Batemans Bay on the Princess Highway remains an option. *5055 HARBOUR BRIDGE TOLL—Mr Stoner to Premier, Treasurer, and Minister for Citizenship— In relation to the extension of the Harbour Bridge Toll: (1) How much revenue has been raised in: (a) 2002-03 (b) 2003-04 (c) 2004-05 (d) 2005-06 to date? (2) What road projects have been funded and to what amounts, from this revenue? Answer— (1) The revenue raised from the increase in the Harbour Bridge Toll announced in December 2001 was as follows: (a) $20.792 million in 2002-03 (b) $19.828 million in 2003-04 (c) $19.997 million in 2004-05 (d) $6.704 million up to 31 October in 2005-06 The amount raised is consistent with the announcement. (2) The above funds contributed to the cost of the following works undertaken and programmed for 2005-06: • 42 pavement reconstruction works totalling $205.21 million • 2 bridge repainting works totalling $26.08 million • 5 bridge widening works totalling $5.65 million • 5 slope stabilisation works totalling $11.62 million • 4 drainage replacement works totalling $3.3 million • 1 bridge rehabilitation project totalling $2 million. Should the Honourable Member require further information, the Minister for Roads would be pleased to arrange a brief for the Member.

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