Questions & Answers Paper No. 37
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
437 PROOF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 37 TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2011 (The Questions and Answers Paper published for the first sitting day in each week will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting and any new questions. On subsequent days, new questions are printed, as are questions to which answers were received the previous day. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) Notice given on date shown 438 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 37— Tuesday 6 September 2011 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 25 (Including Question Nos 0135 to 0307) 06 September 2011 Q & A No. 26 (Including Question Nos 0308 to 0325) 07 September 2011 Q & A No. 27 (Including Question Nos 0326 to 0364) 08 September 2011 Q & A No. 28 (Including Question Nos 0365 to 0374) 09 September 2011 Q & A No. 29 (Including Question Nos 0375 to 0417) 13 September 2011 Q & A No. 30 (Including Question Nos 0418 to 0446) 14 September 2011 Q & A No. 31 (Including Question Nos 0447 to 0488) 15 September 2011 Q & A No. 32 (Including Question Nos 0489 to 0527) 16 September 2011 Q & A No. 33 (Including Question Nos 0528 to 0567) 27 September 2011 Q & A No. 34 (Including Question Nos 0568 to 0584) 28 September 2011 Q & A No. 35 (Including Question Nos 0585 to 0586) 29 September 2011 Q & A No. 36 (Including Question Nos 0587 to 0603) 30 September 2011 Q & A No. 37 (Including Question Nos 0604 to 0609) 11 October 2011 439 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 37— Tuesday 6 September 2011 2 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 25) *135 ROADS AND PORTS—GOCUP ROAD—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) What are the latest plans to upgrade, maintain and manage Gocup Road? (2) What funding is currently allocated for the upgrade, maintenance and management of Gocup Road? (3) Has the planning work commenced for future upgrades of Gocup Road? Answer— I am advised: (1) Tumut Shire Council will carry out routine maintenance, heavy patching, drainage and culvert maintenance work on Gocup Road under its Road Maintenance Council Contract. Funding has also been provided for road widening and reconstruction work. This work will be carried out progressively in line with priority needs. (2) $2.265 million has been allocated in 2011-12 for the maintenance, management and upgrade of Gocup Road. (3) Preliminary planning for future upgrades of Gocup Road has started. *136 JUSTICE—PRISON ESCAPEES—Mr Secord asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— (1) How many people have escaped from New South Wales prisons or remand centres since 26 March 2011? (2) How many escapees were men? (3) How many escapees were women? (4) What prisons or remand centres were they in custody at before they escaped? (5) What were the escapees' offences? (6) How many are still "on the run"? (7) (a) What is the average time "on the run" for escaped prisoners since 26 March 2011? (b) How many recorded offences were committed while an escapee was "on the run"? Answer— I am advised: (1) Nine. (2) Nine. (3) Zero. (4) Five inmates escaped from Brewarinna (Yetta Dhinnakkal) Centre, one escaped from Cessnock Correctional Centre, one escaped from Mannus Correctional Centre, and two escaped from Mid- North Coast Correctional Centre. They were classified as minimum security inmates. (5) The escapees were serving sentences for offences of armed robbery, robbery, break and enter, assault, driving offences and revocation of parole. (6) Zero. (7) (a) Nine days. (b) Corrective Services NSW does not keep comprehensive data of crimes committed by escapees whilst unlawfully at large. 440 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 37— Tuesday 6 September 2011 *137 ROADS AND PORTS—ERSKINE PARK LINK ROAD—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) What was the date of the completion of planning work for the Erskine Park Link Road project? (2) What was the date of commencement of works for this project? (3) What is the completion date for this project? Answer— I am advised: (1) Following planning approval in August 2009, the RTA commenced an environmental assessment for the Erskine Park Link Road, which was determined in November 2010. (2) Construction of Erskine Park Link Road is expected to commence in late October 2011. (3) Construction of 3.1 kilometres dual carriageway of Erskine Park Link Road is expected to be completed in mid 2013, weather permitting. *138 ROADS AND PORTS—CENTRAL COAST HIGHWAY—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) What was the date of the completion of planning work for the minor road works taking place on the Central Coast Highway at Kariong Hill? (2) What was the date of commencement of works for this project? (3) What is the completion date for this project? Answer— I am advised: (1) Work on the Central Coast Highway at Kariong Hill was granted environmental approval in December 2008. (2) Work started in January 2009. (3) The works were completed in July 2011. *139 JUSTICE—TAMWORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTRE—Mr Secord asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— (1) As of 31 July 2011: (a) How many people are employed at Tamworth Correctional Centre? (b) How many staff were full-time? (c) How many staff were part-time? (d) What was the breakdown of staff at the Correctional Centre in relation to the following roles: (i) Administrative? (ii) Guards? (iii) Cleaning staff? (iv) Other staff? (e) What was the average annual salary? (f) What was the average weekly salary? (2) What is the annual operating budget for Tamworth Correctional Centre as of 31 July 2011? (3) How many inmates are housed at Tamworth Correctional Centre as of 31 July 2011? (4) How many inmates are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent? (5) What is the average length of stay in custody at Tamworth Correctional Centre? (6) How long is the average staff member employed at Tamworth Correctional Centre? (7) Since 26 March 2011, has the Government conducted any studies on the workforce at the Tamworth Correctional Centre? 441 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 37— Tuesday 6 September 2011 (8) (a) Where does the Department of Corrective Services hold female prisoners in Tamworth? (b) At that location, how long is an average female prisoner held? (c) What percentage of those female prisoners are identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander? (d) Since 26 March 2011, how many female prisoners have been held at that location? (e) Since 26 March 2011, have there been any incidents of self-harm involving female prisoners held there? Answer— I am advised: (1) (a) 54. (b) 54. (c) Zero. (d) It is inappropriate to provide a breakdown of the roles of staff for security reasons. (e) $70,016.25 including allowances. (f) $1,346.46 including allowances. (2) Expenditure for Tamworth Correctional Centre in the 2010⁄2011 financial year was $6.4 million. (3) 89. (4) 54. (5) 27 days. (6) 7.6 years for current officers. (7) Corrective Services NSW is currently assessing its overall workforce requirements throughout all its operations as part of a proposal to address the number of excess correctional centre beds. (8) Tamworth Correctional Centre does not hold female prisoners. Any female offender detained in Tamworth overnight would be detained at Tamworth Police Cells. *140 ROADS AND PORTS—TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT HOWE STREET, SINGLETON—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) What was the date of the completion of planning work for the project to install traffic lights at Howe Street, Singleton? (2) What is the budget for this project? (3) What percentage of this budget is being paid for by Singleton Council? (4) What was the date of commencement of works for this project? (5) What is the completion date for this project? Answer— I am advised: (1) The concept approval and the required environmental approvals were completed by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) on 8 July 2010. (2) National Blackspot funding of $450,000 over three years is available for the RTA managed parts of the project. Singleton Council is responsible for managing and funding the realignment of Howe Street. The RTA has agreed to make $40,000 available as a contribution for this work. (3) Singleton Council is carrying out the realignment of Howe Street using council funds, developer funds and a contribution of $40,000 from the RTA. The total value and percentage of the council funded part of the project is not known to the RTA. (4) Construction works started on site on 20 June 2011. (5) The RTA is scheduled to complete the traffic light component of the work in August 2011. Completion of the overall project is dependent on Singleton Council completing the realignment of Howe Street and utility relocation works at the intersection. 442 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 37— Tuesday 6 September 2011 *141 ROADS AND PORTS—UPGRADE OF GOLDEN HIGHWAY AT OGILVIE HILL—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) What was the date of the completion of planning work for upgrades to the Golden Highway at Ogilvie Hill, east of Denman? (2) What was the date of commencement of works for this project? (3) What is the completion date for this project? Answer— I am advised: (1) Planning work was completed on 3 December 2010.