1131 PROOF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2015 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH PARLIAMENT _____________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 37 THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2015 _____________ 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. 1132 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Thursday 22 October 2015 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 31 (Including Question Nos 1393 to 1446) 22 October 2015 Q & A No. 32 (Including Question Nos 1447 to 1504) 17 November 2015 Q & A No. 33 (Including Question Nos 1505 to 1530) 18 November 2015 Q & A No. 34 (Including Question Nos 1531 to 1616) 19 November 2015 Q & A No. 35 (Including Question Nos 1617 to 1656) 24 November 2015 Q & A No. 36 (Including Question Nos 1657 to 1682) 25 November 2015 Q & A No. 37 (Including Question Nos 1683 to 1756) 26 November 2015 1133 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Thursday 22 October 2015 17 SEPTEMBER 2015 (Paper No. 31) *1393 SOBERING UP CENTRES—Ms Jodi McKay asked the Deputy Premier, Minister for Justice and Police, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Racing— (1) How many people have been held in the Government's sobering up centres between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015? (2) How much did it cost the Government to run the sobering up centres over the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015? (3) How many of these people were forced to re-pay the Government for their placement in these centres? Answer— Individuals can be held in the Sydney City sobering up centre from 9am until 6pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Cost incurred by the NSW Police Force are met within the existing budget. Cost recovery orders are manages by the State Debt Recovery Office. *1394 BILLBOARDS—Ms Jodi McKay asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure representing the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— (1) How many billboards are located on Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) property as of 1 September 2015? (2) How many billboards were located on RMS property as of 1 September 2010? (3) What was the total revenue to RMS from billboards in each of the 2010-11 and the 2014-15 financial years? Answer— (1) There are 138 billboard sites on Roads and Maritime Services property. Since 2009 Roads and Maritime has included a requirement in new contracts that billboards display a road safety message for a portion of each year. (2) Refer to my previous answer LA 4115. (3) Information regarding advertising revenue is available in the Roads and Maritime Services' annual report. *1395 TOLL AVOIDANCE PERCENTAGE—Ms Jodi McKay asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure representing the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— (1) Has the Government completed any analysis on the possible toll avoidance percentage for the M4 extension? (a) If so, what is the expected toll avoidance percentage for the M4 once the first stage of Westconnex is complete? Answer— The delivery of the M4 East will free up significant capacity for motorists who continue to use Parramatta Road. The M4 East Environmental Impact Statement shows in 2021 traffic volumes on sections of Parramatta Road are expected to be cut by up to 53 per cent as a result of WestConnex, compared to a do nothing scenario. *1399 FOXGROUND TO BERRY BYPASS—Ms Anna Watson asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure representing the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— (1) From where were the steel girders used as framework for the Foxground to Berry Bypass procured? (2) What is the name of the company which supplied these girders? (3) In which country is the company located? Answer— I am advised: 1134 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Thursday 22 October 2015 Procurement of goods and services is undertaken in line with the Government procurement guidelines. Australian-based companies are given every opportunity to tender for Government contracts through a fair and transparent process. Roads and Maritime Services has processes in place to encourage competitive tendering to get the best value for money for the people of New South Wales. The use of Australian products is a commercial decision made by companies delivering major road projects on behalf of Roads and Maritime Services. Roads and Maritime encourages its suppliers to source materials locally where possible. Australian steel has been used for the majority of the Foxground and Berry bypass and the Gerringong upgrade, including steel produced by BlueScope. *1400 GERRINGONG UPGRADE—Ms Anna Watson asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure representing the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— (1) From where were the steel girders used as framework for the Gerringong upgrade procured? (2) What is the name of the company which supplied these girders? (3) In which country is the company located? Answer— I am advised: Procurement of goods and services is undertaken in line with the Government procurement guidelines. Australian-based companies are given every opportunity to tender for Government contracts through a fair and transparent process. Roads and Maritime Services has processes in place to encourage competitive tendering to get the best value for money for the people of New South Wales. The use of Australian products is a commercial decision made by companies delivering major road projects on behalf of Roads and Maritime Services. Roads and Maritime encourages its suppliers to source materials locally where possible. Australian steel has been used for the majority of the Foxground and Berry bypass and the Gerringong upgrade, including steel produced by BlueScope. *1401 TOWN HALL RAILWAY STATION PUBLIC TOILETS—Mr Alex Greenwich asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure— (1) What stakeholder feedback did the Government receive about removing public access from the Town Hall Railway Station public toilets? (2) What feedback did disability and incontinence organisations provide? (3) What community consultation was carried out on this proposal and what feedback was provided? (4) What assessment was carried out about nearby alternative public toilets, and are these options available during the same times? (5) What consideration has the Government given to allowing full public access to these toilets? (6) What further plans does the Government have to provide full public access to these toilets? Answer— (1) to (3) Sydney Trains carried out consultation with key stakeholders including the City of Sydney Council, Guide Dogs NSW, Vision Australia and surrounding retailers. No issues were raised from Guide Dogs NSW, Vision Australia and retail stakeholders within the precinct. (4) to (6) Town Hall Station is being refurbished to make it more user-friendly and appealing for customers. This $8 million make-over is the biggest change in 30 years for one of Sydney's busiest stations. The ticket barriers at Town Hall Station have been moved to help improve customer flow. A customer with an Opal card can access the station's toilets at no cost by tapping on to enter and tapping off to exit within 30 minutes. Other public toilets are available around the station precinct. Station customer service staff can provide details to members of the public if required. *1402 COMMUNITY BASED HOUSING—Ms Kate Washington asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Social Housing representing the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism— 1135 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Thursday 22 October 2015 Will the Minister or Department of Family and Community Services build community based housing for people living at the Stockton Centre? Answer— Yes. *1403 RELOCATION OF RESIDENTS FROM THE STOCKTON CENTRE—Ms Kate Washington asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Social Housing representing the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism— (1) When will the business case pertaining to the relocation of residents from the Stockton Centre to community based housing be funded? (2) Why has this business case not been funded as at 17 September 2015? Answer— (1) The Government has allocated a total of $58 million in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Budgets to acquire land and construct the first homes for the redevelopment of the Hunter Large Residential Centres. (2) Refer to Question 1. *1404 PRIVATISATION OF THE STOCKTON CENTRE—Ms Kate Washington asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Social Housing representing the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism— Is there a plan to privatise the operations of the Stockton Centre, possibly commencing in 2016? Answer— The Government is committed to closing all Large Residential Centres across New South Wales by mid-2018.The redevelopment of the Stockton Centre has been agreed to by both the Government and the former Labor Governments since 1998, and has broad support from carers, disability advocates and experts. *1405 TRANSITION FROM STOCKTON CENTRE—Ms Kate Washington asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Social Housing representing the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism— (1) Will the Minister commit to the smooth transition of the people living at the Stockton Centre to community based living? (2) Will the Stockton Centre continue to operate until the transition to community based living is complete? Answer— (1) and (2) Yes.