PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1993 THIRD SESSION OF THE FIFTIETH PARLIAMENT ___________________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 34 TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 1993 ___________________ [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.] [Pursuant to the Sessional Order adopted by the House on 24 February 1993, Members shall be permitted to lodge 3 questions on notice per sitting day accumulative over one sitting week, provided that the Leader of the Opposition shall be permitted to lodge 4 questions on notice per sitting day. Ministers shall lodge answers to questions on notice within 15 sitting days after the question is first published and such answer shall be published forthwith.] Page 2098 DATE OF PUBLICATION OF QUESTION ANSWER TO BE LODGED BY Q. & A. No. 19 19 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1225 to 1261) Q. & A. No. 20 20 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1262 to 1328) Q. & A. No. 21 21 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1329 to 1345) Q. & A. No. 22 26 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1346 to 1387) Q. & A. No. 23 27 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1388 to 1463) Q. & A. No. 24 28 October 1993 (Including Question Nos 1464 to 1524) Q. & A. No. 25 9 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1525 to 1575) Q. & A. No. 26 10 November 1993 (Including Questions Nos 1576 to 1623) Q. & A. No. 27 11 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1624 to 1672) Q. & A. No. 28 16 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1673 to 1688) Q. & A. No. 29 17 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1689 to 1708) Q. & A. No. 30 18 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1709 to 1756) Q. & A. No. 31 23 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1757 to 1787) Q. & A. No. 32 24 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1788 to 1816) Q. & A. No. 33 25 November 1993 (Including Question Nos 1817 to 1901) Q. & A. No. 34 30 November 1993 (Estimates Committee Day) Page 2099 (Answers required to have been lodged by 19 October 1993) Minister for Land and Water Conservation representing the Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing—1237, 1252, 1259. Minister for Health—1238, 1243, 1258. Minister for Police and Minister for Emergency Services—1235. Notice of Question given on the date shown 11 MAY 1993 (Paper No. 18) *1203 RAILWAYSTAFF—ELECTORATEOF BATHURST—Mr Clough asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) How many redundancies have been achieved in railway staff since 1988 at: (a) Lithgow? (b) Bathurst? (c) Blayney? (d) Kandos? (2) What has been the total "payout" figure with regard to the redundancies? (3) As at 11 May 1993, what is the total railway staff employed in the electorate of Bathurst? (4) What was the total railway staff employed in the electorate of Bathurst in July 1988? Answer— (1) Redundancy figures are only available from 1989. The total number of redundancies from State Rail since 1989 are: (a) Lithgow 70 (b) Bathurst 130 (c) Blayney 3 (d) Kandos 6 (2) Based on the average redundancy package payment to State Rail staff, an estimated $16 million has been paid in the Bathurst electorate. Each redundancy payment includes leave entitlements and superannuation entitlements as well as a redundancy component. (3) The total number of railway staff employed in the Bathurst electorate at 11 May 1993 was 530. Since 11 May 1993, the decision has been made to decentralise the State Rail Authority's workshops. Up to 150 new jobs will be created in Bathurst and Goulburn, of which around half will be located in Bathurst. It is important to note that private sector jobs have replaced some State Rail Authority jobs in Bathurst. 129 jobs have been created in Bathurst through various contracts awarded to Clyde Industries. (4) Railway staff employed in the Bathurst electorate in July 1988 totalled 713. *1206 TANGARA TINTED WINDOWS—Mr Davoren asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) Is he aware that difficulty is experienced by passengers in Tangara carriages to read station signs at night due to the tinted windows? (2) What steps are being instituted to solve this problem? Page 2100 Answer— (1) Yes. (2) Lighting and signage at stations have been improved. In addition, it is proposed that train guards will make a short announcement prior to arriving at each stopping station during the heavily patronised period of the evening darkness until 9 p.m. *1212 TRAIN SERVICE CO-ORDINATION—Mr Nagle asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) Is it the Government's policy as far as possible to co-ordinate train schedules so that when one train arrives at a station it can meet another train so that changing passengers can meet the connecting service? (2) If so, why could not the 8.45 a.m. Bondi Junction train connect up with the 8.46 a.m. train to St James Station from Central Station on 11 May 1993? Answer— (1) Yes. (2) The frequency of services on the City Circle makes it unnecessary to provide scheduled connecting services. *1213 FARE EVASION—MrNagle asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) What revenue was gained through legal action against fare evaders from 1988 to 1993? (2) Is there a report and/or memoranda on fare evasion? (3) (a) Does not this report and/or memoranda set out the estimated loss on fare evasion? (b) If so, what is the annual loss of revenue through fare evasion from 1988 to 1993? Answer— (1) $6 million. (2) Yes. (3) (a) Yes. (b) $8 million. *1216 TANGARA RAIL CAR SEATING—Mr Price asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) What type of seating is proposed for the last 25 Tangara rail cars? (2) Is a fixed seat to be fitted? (3) If so, are the seats to be arranged facing one direction only or will they be placed in the same split configuration that exist on the Tangara cars already in service. (4) Is a revolving seat to be fitted? (5) Is a reversible seat to be fitted? Answer— (1) Seating will be high-backed, well padded and reversible in a 3 + 2 configuration. (2) No. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. (5) Yes. Page 2101 12 MAY 1993 (Paper No. 19) *1225 M4 OFF-RAMPS TO CUMBERLAND HIGHWAY—MsAllan asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) Is he aware of the inconvenience being caused to motorists due to the lack of directional signs to Wentworthville and Greystanes at the M4 off- ramps to the Cumberland Highway? (2) Is he further aware that the Roads and Traffic Authority excuse for not providing such signposting is that the Cumberland Highway is a Metroad and the Roads and Traffic Authority principles of signposting precludes installation of the required signs? (3) Why are there no signs to give motorists directions to their destination? (4) Will he instruct the Roads and Traffic Authority to erect directional signs at the M4 off-ramps at the Cumberland Highway? (5) If not, why not? Answer— The honourable member may recall that the position concerning this matter was outlined to her in Ministerial correspondence dated 25 February last. As previously indicated, the Roads and Traffic Authority has determined that certain major roads should be specially designated as through-traffic corridors. The six routes of this kind which comprise the Sydney Metroad system include the M4 Motorway and the Cumberland Highway. The intersection of these two Metroads consequently assumes particular importance as a central point in the system. The signposting principle adopted for the Metroad system requires that where two Metroads intersect, a major Sydney metropolitan destination and select "route function" destinations be shown in each direction. Therefore, at the intersection in question, Hornsby and North Coast have been signposted to the north, with Liverpool and Canberra indicated to the south. Also, Westmead Hospital has been shown as a destination for eastbound traffic. Accordingly, the intersection has been correctly signposted. Nevertheless, the Authority is negotiating with Holroyd City Council on the question of providing direction signs to the Wentworthville/Greystanes area. *1226 OLYMPICS 2000 PROJECT—USE OF RECYCLED COMPOST—Ms Allan asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) Can he verify that the Olympics 2000 project will use recycled compost products, soil and mulches? (2) Can he assure the House that he will seek an assurance that such recycled products will have been subjected to rigorous testing to ensure the safety of the community and the environment? (3) Will he consult with his ministerial colleagues to ascertain whether problems have occurred through the use of recycled compost products utilising treated sludge? (4) If not, why not? Page 2102 Answer— The construction of sporting facilities at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush, remains the responsibility of the Public Works Department. Therefore, this question should be referred to the Hon. I. A. Armstrong, M.P., Deputy Premier, Minister for Public Works and Minister for Ports. *1227 SEVEN HILLS RAILWAYSTATIONCOMMUTER CAR PARK—Ms Allan asked the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads— (1) Is he aware that a commuter car park is being built at Seven Hills Railway Station? (2) Is he further aware that no toilet facilities are to be provided in the development? (3) Is the lack of toilet provision a policy aimed at reducing costs due to vandalism? (4) (a) Is possible damage to an amenities block considered more important than vandalism of commuter's vehicles and risk to commuters welfare through lack of security? (b) If so, why? (5) Will he intervene in the building process and insist that adequate toilet facilities are provided for commuters, bus passengers and drivers of buses and taxi cabs? (6) If not, why not? Answer— (1) Yes.