504 Death of Sir Leslie Herron [COUNCIL] Questions without Notice 1fi.egisbdil.t.e illnumil centre areas and in that regard we have had discussions with the Commonwealth. We Tuesday, 28 August, 1973 expect that ultimately legislation will be in­ troduced in this State along the lines of a statement made in October last year with Death of Sir Leslie Herron, Lieutenant-Governor­ Questions without Notice-Governor's Speech: regard to values of land that we feel is Address in Reply (Ninth Day's Debate). needed for public purposes within growth centre areas. I view with considerable doubt the wisdom of endeavouring to freeze The PRESIDENT took the chair at 4.28 p.m. land prices generally in this State for ten The PRAYER was read. years. I am sure the Government would not regard that as a practical approach to the DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE SIR problem. However, we are willing to look LESLIE JAMES HERRON, K.B.E., C.M.G., at an attempt to steady up land prices within K.ST.J., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF the growth centres to try to encourage NEW SOUTH WALES development in those places. The PRESIDENT informed the House of the receipt of a communication from Lady DARTMOUTH AND PIKE CREEK DAMS Herron thanking the House for the resolu­ The Ron. L. P. CONNELLAN: I ask tion of sympathy on the death of the the Minister for Decentralisation and Honourable Sir Leslie James Herron, Development whether in the past few days K.B.E., C.M.G., K.St.J., Lieutenant-Gover­ the continuation of construction of Dart­ nor of the State of New South Wales. mouth Dam has been thrown into doubt by the federal Government as a result of the Coombs committee recommendation that QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE work on the dam be either discontinued or HOUSING LAND PRICES delayed. Is it a fact that the construction of Dartmouth Dam is of vital importance to The Ron. H. J. McPHERSON: My ques­ New South Wales, Victoria and South Aus­ tion is addressed to the Minister for Decen­ tralia and especially the city of Adelaide? tralisation and Development. Is it a fact Is it also a fact that the Pike Creek Dam, of that the federal Minister for Urban and great importance to the people in the north­ Regional Development has asked State gov­ ern part of this State, is likely to be simi­ ernments to freeze prices of building land larly jeopardized? for up to ten years? Does the Minister see this as a fair move to keep to a minimum The Ron. J. B. M. FULLER: I was the price of building lots for homeseekers? astonished when I heard the news on the Will the New South Wales Government radio on Friday night that the Common­ bring down legislation along these lines and wealth was considering delaying the con­ so complement the efforts of the Australian struction of Dartmouth Dam. I was relieved Government to make land available to home­ to see a statement from my colleague the seekers at reasonable prices? Minister for Conservation and Minister for Cultural Activities who came out strongly, The Ron. J. B. M. FULLER: I have seen a report that the federal Minister for Urban in the shortest possible time, saying that it and Regional Development has suggested to appeared to him that the Commonwealth State governments that they should freeze was trying to welsh on its commitment to land prices for ten years. I have not had assist in the huge Dartmouth Dam oper­ any communication-and, I understand, ation, which was a co-operative effort of the neither has the Premier-from the Common­ Commonwealth, Victorian, New South wealth in this regard. All I know is what I Wales and South Australian governments. read in the press. For some time now we He went on to say that every political force have been discussing the possibility of would be used in New South Wales to ensure steadying up spiralling land prices in growth that Dartmouth Dam proceeds under the Questions without Notice [28 AUG., 1973] Questions without Notice 505 terms of the original agreement reached by Government will not permit people's liveli­ the federal, South Australian, Victorian and hoods to be put in jeopardy by this irrespon­ New South Wales governments. The Minis­ sible approach-after everyone had under­ ter stated last Friday that he understood that stood that this dam was to be proceeded the Acting Premier of South Australia, the with. The decision reached in New South Hon. J. D. Corcoran, was reported to have Wales, and I expect in Queensland also, is said that he· received a similar letter from that Pike Creek Dam will proceed, but with­ the Prime Minister but that the South Aus­ out federal financial assistance it may take tralian Government would strongly oppose a little longer to construct-possibly a year any delay in construction of the dam. I was or so. I assure the honourable member that glad also that the Premier of South Aus­ Pike Creek Dam will be built by the Queens­ tralia came in quickly, again in a television land and New South Wales governments interview, and said that his Government although the federal Government will not would make certain that the federal Govern­ face up to its acknowledged commitment in ment was compelled to face up to its com­ this regard. mitments in this regard. Since then, all three State governments have indicated their un­ BLUE MOUNTAINS TOURIST willingness to slow down the construction DEVELOPMENT AREA of Dartmouth Dam. The Premier of South Australia has stated that the water is The Ron. L. D. SERISIER: I address my urgently required for both domestic and question to the Vice-President of the Execu­ irrigation purposes in South Australia and tive Council. Will the New South Wales that the Commonwealth's contribution is a Government constitute the Blue Mountains long-standing commitment. From the New area as a separate tourist development area? South Wales point of view, the dam is essen­ The Ron. J. B. M. FULLER: The Gov­ tial for the development of the growth ernment is always concerned with the exten­ centre of Albury-Wodonga. If the construc­ sion of assistance to the tourist industry. tion of the dam is not proceeded with, the The decision that was made, I think early in whole future planning and development of June of this year, to set up four specific that growth centre will be put in jeopardy. centres was made on the advice of a com­ Assured water supplies to users along the mittee largely representative of members of Murray River are of critical concern to the the Australian National Travel Association, State Government, but apparently not to the the Department of Tourism and the Depart­ federal Government. ment of Decentralisation and Development. I am informed that the Premier of Those were the prime recommendations at Queensland has received official notice from the time. I know that the committee gave the Prime Minister that the Commonwealth much consideration to the Blue Mountains will not contribute to the building of Pike area because of its natural attractiveness and Creek Dam. This is a direct repudiation of I am quite willing to suggest to the com­ the agreement reached by the previous mittee that it might have another look at federal Government with the State govern­ the possibility of making the Blue Moun­ ments of Queensland and New South Wales. It is typical of the new federal Government's tains a separate tourist development area. I policy that wherever possible it knocks and assure the honourable member that the bashes the people in the country. The atti­ Government will give the same sympathetic tude of the Commonwealth is that, though consideration to tourist development projects it has a basic commitment and a promise in the Blue Mountains as is given to similar to build the dam, now is the chance to get developments in other parts of the State. out of it. Feasibility studies of the three governments concerned-the Queensland, PRIORITY ROADS New South Wales and federal governments The Ron. T. S. McKAY: I ask the Min­ -were completed and all proved the need ister for Labour and Industry whether the for Pike Creek Dam. The New South Wales classification of Victoria Road as a priorit~ 506 Questions without Notice [COUNCIL] Questions without Notice road has proved to be successful? Has traf­ bodies that they should approach the Com­ fic flow improved and have intersection col­ monwealth Government direct for financial lisions been reduced? If so, will the Minis­ assistance. It is regrettable that this type of ter advise the House when other roads are approach should be made. I have said for a likely to be so classified, as a means of long time that we would appreciate financial phasing out the give-way-to-the-right rule, assistance to local government in New South except as a rule of last resort where no Wales, but the Government feels that this priority applies? should be assistance to the State Govern­ ment to maintain the priorities we have in The Hon. F. M. HEWITT: I know the New South Wales for local-government Minister and the Department of Motor work. Transport have been pleased with the results of declaring Victoria Road in this manner. If a group of councils band together, Accidents have been greatly reduced and thinking that they will have some preference the traffic flow has improved, though I had in this regard, that is regrettable because a slow trip on that road only two days ago.