6389 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2007-08-09 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 145 TUESDAY 14 JULY 2009 The Questions and Answers Paper is published at the end of each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on that 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. During any adjournment of two weeks or more a Questions and Answers Paper will be published from time to time containing answers received. Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF 6390 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TUESDAY 14 JULY 2009 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 133 (Including Question Nos 6559 to 6592) 07 July 2009 Q & A No. 134 (Including Question Nos 6593 to 6674) 08 July 2009 Q & A No. 135 (Including Question Nos 6675 to 6754) 09 July 2009 Q & A No. 136 (Including Question Nos 6755 to 6817) 10 July 2009 Q & A No. 137 (Including Question Nos 6818 to 6848) 21 July 2009 Q & A No. 138 (Including Question Nos 6849 to 6895) 22 July 2009 Q & A No. 139 (Questions—Nil) - Q & A No. 140 (Including Question Nos 6896 to 7026) 24 July 2009 Q & A No. 141 (Including Question Nos 7027 to 7076) 28 July 2009 Q & A No. 142 (Including Question Nos 7077 to 7123) 29 July 2009 Q & A No. 143 (Including Question Nos 7124 to 7204) 30 July 2009 Q & A No. 144 (Including Question Nos 7205 to 7295) 31 July 2009 Q & A No. 145 (Questions—Nil) - Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF 6391 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TUESDAY 14 JULY 2009 2 JUNE 2009 (Paper No. 133) *6559 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS—ROOTY HILL—Mr Richard Amery asked the Minister for Roads— (1) For the three-year period ending 31 December 2008, how many motor vehicle accidents have been reported as occurring at the following intersections: (a) Duke Street and Luxford Road Rooty Hill; (b) Duke Street and Blenheim Avenue Rooty Hill; (c) Duke Street and Abraham Street Rooty Hill; (d) Duke Street and Woodstock Avenue Rooty Hill? (2) Does the Roads and Traffic Authority have any plans to upgrade Duke Street between Luxford Road and Woodstock Avenue? Answer— (1) (a) For the three year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008* there were five reported crashes at or within 10 metres of the intersection of Duke Street and Luxford Road, Rooty Hill. Of these five crashes, two crashes involved injuries with two people injured. There were no fatalities reported at this intersection for this time period. (b) For the three year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008* there were eight reported crashes at or within 10 metres of the intersection of Duke Street and Blenheim Avenue, Rooty Hill. Of these eight crashes, three crashes involved injuries with a total of three people injured. There were no fatalities reported at this intersection for this time period. (c) For the three year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008* there were eight reported crashes at or within 10 metres of the intersection of Duke Street and Abraham Street, Rooty Hill. Of these eight crashes, four crashes caused injuries with a total of five people injured. There were no fatalities reported at this intersection for this time period. (d) For the three year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008* there were five reported crashes at or within 10 metres of the intersection of Duke Street and Woodstock Avenue, Rooty Hill. Of these five crashes, two crashes caused injuries with two people being injured. There were no fatalities reported at this intersection for this time period. * All 2008 data is currently only provisional and may be incomplete. This data will be finalised only when the NSW Coroner confirms the cause of each road fatality. The RTA only reports on crashes where at least one person was killed or injured or at least one vehicle was towed away. (2) The RTA currently does not have any plans to upgrade this section of road. However, there is a proposal to install a pedestrian facility on Duke Street near the intersection of Blenheim Avenue, to improve safety for bus patrons. *6560 EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT—Mr Mike Baird asked the Minister for Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Regulatory Reform, and Minister for Ports and Waterways representing the Treasurer— Can the Treasurer provide the calculations used to determine the Government's claim that the $56 billion in infrastructure will support 150,000 jobs each year (Premier in Parliament on 13 May 2009)? Answer— I'm advised: The State capital expenditure program will invest $62.9 billion in the NSW economy over the four years to 2012-13, including Australian Government Nation Building funds. The $62.9 billion investment will support up to 160,000 jobs a year over this four year period. This employment impact has been estimated based on Input-Output data for 2004-05 from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the composition of the $62.9 billion investment program. The estimate includes both direct jobs and those jobs in industries supplying goods and services to infrastructure investment projects. This estimate reflects the significantly increased infrastructure spending in the 2009-10 Budget as well as ongoing refinements in job impact methodology. Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF 6392 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TUESDAY 14 JULY 2009 *6561 VICTORIA ROAD COLLAPSE—Mr Peter Debnam asked the Minister for Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Regulatory Reform, and Minister for Ports and Waterways representing the Treasurer— In relation to the Victoria Road collapse: Will the Treasurer make provision in the 2009-2010 Budget to compensate Woollahra Council for the cost of repairing Victoria Road and Cooper Park, Bellevue Hill? Answer— I'm advised that: There is no provision in the 2009-10 Budget for the cost of repairs to this road. I draw attention to a media release issued by Sydney Water titled "Early views out on Bellevue Hill incident", dated 3 June 2009. *6562 VICTORIA ROAD COLLAPSE—Mr Peter Debnam asked the Minister for Water, and Minister for Regional Development— In relation to the Victoria Road collapse: (1) What complaints or reports about leaking water on Victoria Road Bellevue Hill were received by Sydney Water in the period 22-28 May 2009? (2) What action was taken by Sydney Water in response to each complaint or report of leaks? (3) When did Sydney Water crews visit the site to investigate leaks? (4) As at noon 28 May, what corrective action had been scheduled by Sydney Water in response to reports of leaks? Answer— (1) to (4) I am advised that Sydney Water was informed of a leak at the corner of Victoria and Bellevue Roads, Bellevue Hill on the morning of Tuesday 26 May. A Sydney Water crew attended an intersection of the same name in Ryde instead of Bellevue Hill. The leak was again reported on the afternoon of Thursday 28 May. The leak at that time was not enough to trigger the alarm on the reservoir control system. A Sydney Water crew tested the water main on the afternoon of 28 May, listening for any possible leak with acoustic equipment. They did not hear a leak coming from the main and concluded that the water on the ground was stormwater following heavy rain. Sydney Water has apologised for any inconvenience this incident has caused the people of Bellevue Hill. Sydney Water will continue to work with Woollahra Council to resolve this matter and schedule replacement of the water main around their plans to restore the area. Sydney Water has assured me that it is reviewing its systems and processes to ensure that crews are sent to the correct location. *6563 VICTORIA ROAD COLLAPSE—Mr Peter Debnam asked the Minister for Transport, and Minister for the Illawarra— In relation to the Victoria Road collapse: Following the collapse of Victoria Road Bellevue Hill, will the Minister direct Sydney Buses to reinstate diverted bus services as soon as road conditions permit and in the interim assist bus passengers by scheduling additional feeder buses to complement diverted services? Answer— I am advised: Normal routes will be reinstated as soon as road conditions allow and the heavy vehicle weight restriction is lifted from the affected section of Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill between Bellevue Road and Old South Head Road. State Transit held discussions with Woollahra Council to ensure that arrangements were in place for school special services to continue to operate on their normal routes and that these were not interrupted or diverted. A number of meetings were held with Woollahra Council to ensure that the Route 327 service could be returned as quickly as possible to Bellevue Road. As a result the Route 327 service was returned to Bellevue Road on 4 June, ensuring that the Miroma Light Industries special needs establishment in Cooper Park Road, Bellevue Hill could be accessed by workers and visitors. Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF 6393 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TUESDAY 14 JULY 2009 *6564 RATE PEGGING—Mr Chris Hartcher asked the Minister for Local Government, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health)— What are the Government's plans in relation to changing the present system of rate pegging after the Premier indicated that he would consider this course of action at last year's Local Government and Shires Association Conference in Broken Hill? Answer— I provide the following details in response to your question: In Broken Hill on October 27 2008 the Premier said in relation to adjusting rate pegging: "Such a case could be brought forward by the Local Government Shires Association would have to acknowledge the community desire for accountable and transparent government at every level.