1121 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1999-2000 SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SECOND PARLIAMENT ___________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 49 TUESDAY 8 AUGUST 2000 ___________ (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.) 1122 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tuesday 8 August 2000 PUBLICATION OF QUESTIONS ANSWER TO BE LODGED BY Q. & A. No. 34 27 June 2000 (Including Question Nos 668 to 694) Q. & A. No. 35 28 June 2000 (Including Question Nos 695 to 717) Q. & A. No. 36 29 June 2000 (Including Question Nos 718 to 739) Q. & A. No. 37 30 June 2000 (Including Question Nos 740 to 743) Q. & A. No. 38 4 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 744 to 768) Q. & A. No. 39 5 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 769 to 797) Q. & A. No. 40 6 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 798 to 815) Q. & A. No. 41 7 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 816 to 826) Q. & A. No. 42 11 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 827 to 839) Q. & A. No. 43 12 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 840 to 858) Q. & A. No. 44 13 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 859 to 878) Q. & A. No. 45 14 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 879 to 886) Q. & A. No. 46 25 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 887 to 901) Q. & A. No. 47 26 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 902 to 918) Q. & A. No. 48 27 July 2000 (Including Question Nos 919 to 940) Q. & A. No. 49 3 August 2000 (Including Question Nos 941 to 967) 1123 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tuesday 8 August 2000 Notice of Question given on the date shown 23 MAY 2000 (Paper No. 34) *668 CSIRO LAND, PROSPECT—Ms Allan to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Housing— (1) Will he consider maintaining a rural zoning for CSIRO land at Prospect once the CSIRO vacates the site? (2) What heritage values exist on the site? Answer— (1) The CSIRO site is presently zoned part employment and part residential. It is part of a 980 ha area in Western Sydney subject to State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) No. 59, due to its strategic importance for employment generating development. (2) None are specifically known although there is the potential for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage values to be present. Before any development can take place on the site, SEPP 59 requires that a precinct plan be approved. This process specifically requires that heritage values be addressed. *670 PARRAMATTA PARK—CAPITAL WORKS—Ms Allan to the Minister for the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Corrective Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts— (1) What monies have been spent on capital infrastructure in Parramatta Park over the last twelve months? (2) What capital works are planned for the Park over the next twelve months? Answer— (1) Nil. Capital infrastructure projects were halted due to compliance with a Heritage Office requirement to complete a Landscape Masterplan prior to undertaking any further construction works in the Park. Negotiations over the extent of land required for the Parramatta- Chatswood Rail Link further delayed the commencement of planned capital infrastructure projects. (2) Road improvements to the value of $448,000 are planned with $52,000 having been allocated for the 2000-01 financial year; and improvements to the Burramatta Visitor Centre to the value of $1m have commenced with $794,000 having been allocated in the 2000-01 financial year. (3) A Landscape Masterplan is presently being developed to guide all future capital infrastructure development and projects. This plan is due for completion by the end of July. *671 FERRY/TRAIN TICKETS—Mr Barr to the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Roads— (1) (a) Is there a weekly ferry/train ticket available for purchase from State Transit? (b) If so, how much does this ticket cost? (c) If not, why is there no such combination ticket available? (d) If not, when will such a ticket become available? 1124 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tuesday 8 August 2000 (2) (a) Will there be a weekly combined ferry/train ticket available for use on the new Airport Link train line opened on 21 May 2000? (b) If so, when, and how much will it cost? (c) If not, why will there be no such combination ticket available? (d) If not, how can Manly commuters travelling to the airport for work on a daily basis afford to utilise the new Airport Train Link service? (3) What public transport options are available to commuters travelling from Manly to the airport on a daily basis? (4) Will the route 100 bus continue to operate after the introduction of the Airport Link? Answer— (1) (a) Yes. (b) The price ranges from $26 per week to $51 per week depending on the distance the passenger wishes to travel. (c) N/A. (d) N/A. (2) (a) to (d). The Airport Link is privately operated and the Airport Link Company is currently offering weekly passes. Weekly access fee passes are available from any CityRail outlet and cost from $28.50 depending on the distance travelled. (3) Ferry or JetCat services are available to Circular Quay. Commuters can then change for bus or train services to the airport. Alternatively, a bus is available to Neutral Bay where a connection can be made with the Route 100 bus to the Airport. (4) Yes. *672 NSW BOARDS AND COMMITTEES REGISTER—Mr Brogden to the Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship— (1) Is he aware of the NSW Boards and Committees Register? (2) Has he consulted the NSW Boards and Committees Register before making any appointments to Government Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (3) Has he appointed any youth representatives to Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (4) If so, how many youth representatives has he appointed, and to which Boards and/or Committees have these appointments been made? Answer— (1) to (4) The New South Wales Premier’s Department Register is available for use by Ministers. The Premier’s Department consults the Register to determine whether candidates are suitable for up-coming vacancies. The Department notifies Ministers of vacancies where it is recommended that more people from target groups should be considered for appointment. Arrangements are also being made for the identification of young people on Cabinet nomination forms, to be in place by August 2000. Since last April, twenty young people have been appointed to Government Statutory bodies, advisory and reference groups, including: · The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee · The Youth Entertainment Network Advisory Group · The NSW Youth Week Young People’s Management Committee · The Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health Advisory Board · The Commission for Children and Young People Interim Advisory Committee · The Child Protection and Parental Responsibility Act Coordination and Evaluation Committee; and · The Youth Media Forum Consultative Committee. 1125 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tuesday 8 August 2000 *673 NSW BOARDS AND COMMITTEES REGISTER—Mr Brogden to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Housing— (1) Is he aware of the NSW Boards and Committees Register? (2) Has he consulted the NSW Boards and Committees Register before making any appointments to Government Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (3) Has he appointed any youth representatives to Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (4) If so, how many youth representatives has he appointed, and to which Boards and/or Committees have these appointments been made? Answer— (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) and (4) I am advised that arrangements are being made for the identification of young people on Cabinet nomination forms, to be in place by August 2000. I am also advised that since last April, twenty young people have been appointed to Government statutory bodies, advisory and reference groups, including: · The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee · The Youth Entertainment Network Advisory Group · The NSW Youth Week Young People’s Management Committee · The Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health Advisory Board · The Commission for Children and Young People Interim Advisory Committee · The Child Protection and Parental Responsibility Act Coordination and Evaluation Committee and · The Youth Media Forum Consultative Committee *674 NSW BOARDS AND COMMITTEES REGISTER—Mr Brogden to the Minister for Information Technology, Minister for Energy, Minister for Forestry, and Minister for Western Sydney— (1) Is he aware of the NSW Boards and Committees Register? (2) Has he consulted the NSW Boards and Committees Register before making any appointments to Government Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (3) Has he appointed any youth representatives to Boards and Committees within his portfolios? (4) If so, how many youth representatives has he appointed, and to which Boards and/or Committees have these appointments been made? Answer— (1) to (4) The New South Wales Premier’s Department Register is available for use by Ministers. The Premier’s Department consults the Register to determine whether candidates are suitable for up-coming vacancies. The Department notifies Ministers of vacancies where it is recommended that more people from target groups should be considered for