Legislative Council Wednesday, 17 June 2009 THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) took the chair at 4.00 pm, and read prayers. ESTIMATES COMMITTEE HEARINGS — LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER Statements by President THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House): I have a couple of brief statements. Firstly, as the estimates hearings are being held in this chamber tomorrow, I request that members ensure that their desks are clear at the close of business tonight. SMOKING BAN — PARLIAMENT HOUSE Statement by President THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House): Secondly, the Speaker and I have now had an opportunity to discuss the issue of smoking within Parliament House, and we have agreed to implement a total ban with immediate effect. This prohibition applies to members, staff and visitors while in Parliament House and within 10 metres of any entrance. METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME AMENDMENT 1153/41 Statement by Leader of the House HON NORMAN MOORE (Mining and Pastoral — Leader of the House) [4.02 pm]: I would like to make a statement on behalf of the Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Planning. I present today for tabling metropolitan region scheme amendment 1153/41, which will facilitate the residential development of approximately 127 hectares of land in Caversham. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the City of Swan have been working in partnership to coordinate and achieve subregional planning for the Swan urban growth corridor. This amendment consolidates rather than extends the urban zone in this north east corridor, and a number of investigations have been undertaken in support of the amendment. It is proposed that development of the site will follow new urbanism principles of walkability and sustainability. The developer has also been mindful of the importance of the surrounding Swan Valley and its historic uses. It is estimated that approximately 1 800 residential lots will be created by this development, substantially contributing to the supply of residential lots in the north east corridor. The Environmental Protection Authority supports the zoning of the land. The completion of the MRS amendment process will enable implementation of the Caversham local structure plan. The local structure plan incorporates a dynamic mix of housing densities, including a significant area dedicated to a future aged persons housing complex. The average density of R25 exceeds that of other adjoining areas in accordance with the Liveable Neighbourhoods policy. Careful consideration has been given to co- locating areas of higher density with areas of outstanding amenity, including public open space systems, neighbourhood centres and natural conservation areas. The range of housing densities will encourage considerable variety of housing form in the Swan urban growth corridor and will set a benchmark for urban planning in the metropolitan area. This amendment was advertised for three months in 2008. Twenty-two submissions were received that contained 10 general comments, seven comments of objection and five comments of support. I am now pleased to table the documentation for metropolitan region scheme amendment 1153/41 and I commend it to the house. [See papers 880 and 881.] Consideration of the statement made an order of the day for the next sitting, on motion by Hon Ed Dermer. METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME AMENDMENT 1159/41 Statement by Leader of the House HON NORMAN MOORE (Mining and Pastoral — Leader of the House) [4.06 pm]: I have a further statement to make on behalf of the Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Planning. I present today for tabling metropolitan region scheme amendment 1159/41, which will facilitate the development of an inner-city transit oriented development. The amendment will facilitate the redevelopment of approximately 73 hectares of land currently containing racing facilities. It will also provide for medium and high-density housing, mixed-use facilities, public foreshore access to the site, and minor rationalisation of the Graham Farmer freeway reserve. [COUNCIL - Wednesday, 17 June 2009] 5103 The site is in a unique location. It is located at the northern end of the Burswood Peninsula and is in close proximity to Burswood Park public golf course and Burswood Entertainment Complex. The land is also in close proximity to the central business district, with good access to major transport routes, and has extensive frontage to the Swan River. Currently, the foreshore reserve surrounding the site is privately owned and is partially restricted to the public. The amendment will facilitate the ceding of the foreshore reserve and public access. The historic Belmont Racecourse and associated facilities are to remain and are proposed to be upgraded. The Western Australian Turf Club has worked closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Swan River Trust to identify any potential issues associated with the historic use of the site and surrounding foreshore reserve. The Turf Club has committed to preparing a number of management plans such as a nutrient and irrigation management plan for the racecourse, a foreshore management plan and an urban water management plan for residential areas. A detailed site assessment of acid sulphate soils will also be conducted prior to subdivision and a responsive management plan will be prepared accordingly. The Turf Club has also prepared an indicative development plan for the Belmont Racecourse site and surrounding land. The plan proposes to contribute to the transformation of the northern portion of the Burswood Peninsula into a major tourist, recreation, entertainment and high-density residential activity centre. The plan proposes to complement the Burswood Resort Casino and recent developments including the Peninsula Project, the Burswood Station precinct development review and The Springs redevelopment. In accordance with the statutory provisions for region scheme amendments, this amendment was advertised for three months in 2009. Seventeen submissions were received that contained 12 general comments, three comments of objection and three comments of support. Copies of the submissions and the Western Australian Planning Commission’s report on submissions are also tabled today. I am pleased to now table the documentation for metropolitan region scheme amendment 1159/41 and I commend it to the house. [See papers 882 and 883.] Consideration of the statement made an order of the day for the next sitting, on motion by Hon Ed Dermer. PAPERS TABLED Papers were tabled and ordered to lie upon the table of the house. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS FREE AREAS EXEMPTION ORDER (NO 3) 2009 — DISALLOWANCE Notice of Motion Hon Lynn MacLaren gave notice that at the next sitting of the house she would move — That the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Exemption Order (No 3) 2009, published in the Government Gazette on 22 May 2009 and tabled in the Legislative Council on 2 June 2009 under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003, be and is hereby disallowed. HIGH-LEVEL NURSING HOME CARE — COMMONWEALTH FUNDING Notice of Motion Hon Helen Morton (Parliamentary Secretary) gave notice that at the next sitting of the house she would move — That this house expresses its concern about the impact on families and access to acute hospital beds in WA of the federal government’s inadequate capital and recurrent funding arrangements for high-level nursing home care. WATER CATCHMENTS — SOUTH WEST RECOVERY PROGRAM Amendment to Motion Resumed from 4 June on the following motion moved by Hon Giz Watson — That in the light of the declining rainfall and catastrophic decline in surface water inflow to our dams and the impact of salinity on our south west water catchments, this house calls on the government to implement as a matter of priority a comprehensive upper catchment recovery program based on farm forestry that aims to restore water and salt balance in the six key water catchments in the region. to which the following amendment was moved by Hon Helen Morton — Line 1 — To delete the word “catastrophic”; Line 2 — To delete the words “calls on” and insert “notes” after “house”; Line 2 — To insert the word “initiatives” after “government”; and Line 4 — To insert the words “and other initiatives” after “forestry”. 5104 [COUNCIL - Wednesday, 17 June 2009] HON SALLY TALBOT (South West) [4.11 pm]: When I had to wind up last week because of the expiry of the time allotted to this debate I was expounding somewhat fulsomely on the achievements of the Gallop and Carpenter Labor governments in this area. I was very pleased to have been afforded the opportunity to speak at some length on that matter and on this excellent motion moved by Hon Giz Watson. One of the reasons I was happy to take the allotted time was that both the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party are very interested to hear the view of the National Party on this motion. I remind members present in the chamber at the moment that, should they feel able to contribute, we await their comments with some interest. I said that I would talk about the “State Water Plan 2007” introduced by the Carpenter government and the minister at that time, Hon John Kobelke. Before I do so, I refer to a very significant program undertaken by the Labor government that met with considerable success and was hailed as a national first in recovering waterways from salinity. Hon Giz Watson and Hon Helen Morton referred to five catchment areas that came in for some attention at the beginning of this century—the Collie, Denmark, Kent, Warren and Helena catchments. I understand that the Helena River at that time was still fresh at the dam site, and it would be interesting to hear an update on that situation. The Kent and Warren Rivers were both subject to programs that slowed and stabilised the rising rate of salinity, which was an achievement well worth noting. However, the real success story was in Denmark.