725 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2011 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH PARLIAMENT _____________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 41 FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2011 _____________ 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. 726 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Friday 9 September 2011 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 29 (Including Question Nos 0522 to 0540) 09 September 2011 Q & A No. 30 (Including Question Nos 0541 to 0575) 12 September 2011 Q & A No. 31 (Including Question Nos 0576 to 0597) 13 September 2011 Q & A No. 32 (Including Question Nos 0598 to 0617) 14 September 2011 Q & A No. 33 (Including Question Nos 0618 to 0651) 15 September 2011 Q & A No. 34 (Including Question Nos 0652 to 0706) 27 September 2011 Q & A No. 35 (Including Question Nos 0707 to 0738) 28 September 2011 Q & A No. 36 (Including Question Nos 0739 to 0766) 29 September 2011 Q & A No. 37 (Including Question Nos 0767 to 0786) 30 September 2011 Q & A No. 38 (Including Question Nos 0787 to 0825) 11 October 2011 Q & A No. 39 (Including Question Nos 0826 to 0869) 12 October 2011 Q & A No. 40 (Including Question Nos 0870 to 0888) 13 October 2011 Q & A No. 41 (Including Question Nos 0889 to 0928) 14 October 2011 727 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Friday 9 September 2011 5 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 29) *0525 CESSNOCK DISTRICT HOSPITAL—STAFFING LEVELS—Mr Clayton Barr asked the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— What are the current staffing levels at Cessnock District Hospital? Answer— I am advised: While staffing levels may fluctuate, Cessnock District Hospital FTE staffing levels as at 31 July 2011 were as follows: No. Full time equivalent (FTE) Hotel Services 1.0 Medical 0.0 Scientific & Technical Clinical Support Staff 2.3 Other 1.3 Corporate Services 16.6 Nursing 79.0 TOTAL 100.2 *0526 CESSNOCK DISTRICT HOSPITAL—BED NUMBERS—Mr Clayton Barr asked the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— How many beds are currently available at Cessnock District Hospital? Answer— I am advised that as at July 2011 Cessnock Hospital has a total of 68 beds, inclusive of 4 Emergency Department treatment spaces. *0527 CESSNOCK LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA—NEW HOSPITAL—Mr Clayton Barr asked the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— What steps have been taken to plan for a new hospital in the Cessnock Local Government Area to accommodate the population expansion and growth? Answer— I am advised: Hunter New England Health District recognises the need for review and planning of health services across the Lower Hunter to meet future demand from a growing and ageing population. To this end, Hunter New England Health has completed a preliminary planning exercise to explore future models of service delivery to best meet community needs. A model of service delivery for primary, acute and subacute health services across the LGAs of Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Dungog has been proposed. The next stage of planning will determine services and workforce required, infrastructure needs and optimal locations for health services. *0528 KURRI KURRI DISTRICT HOSPITAL—STAFFING LEVELS—Mr Clayton Barr asked the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— What are the current staffing levels at Kurri Kurri District Hospital? Answer— I am advised: While staffing levels may fluctuate, Kurri Kurri District Hospital FTE staffing levels as at 31 July 2011 were as follows: No. Full time equivalent (FTE) Scientific & Technical Clinical Support Staff 2.9 Nursing 41.9 Corporate Services 6.3 728 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Friday 9 September 2011 Other 0.5 TOTAL 51.6 *0529 KURRI KURRI DISTRICT HOSPITAL—BED NUMBERS—Mr Clayton Barr asked the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— How many beds are currently open for use⁄occupancy at Kurri Kurri District Hospital? Answer— I am advised that, as at July 2011 Kurri Kurri Hospital has a total of 46 beds, inclusive of 2 Recovery Room treatment spaces and 3 Emergency Department treatment spaces. 8 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 30) 0543 MEALS ON WHEELS—TRANSFER OF OVERSIGHT—Ms Sonia Hornery to ask the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services— 0544 MEALS ON WHEELS—BELMONT AND MORISSET BRANCHES—Ms Sonia Hornery to ask the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services— 0546 DEFENDED CRIMINAL MATTERS—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0547 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0548 JUDGE-ALONE TRIALS—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0549 POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0550 CORRECTIVE SERVICES COMMISSIONER—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0551 CORRECTIVE SERVICES NSW—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0552 RESPITE CARE—EXTRA HOURS—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services— 0553 HOSPITAL SECURITY—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0554 ORGAN DONATION—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0555 NEPEAN HOSPITAL CAR PARK—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0556 WESTMEAD MORGUE—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0557 HOSPITAL INFECTION RATE REPORTING—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0562 MEALS ON WHEELS FUNDING—Mr Ryan Park to ask the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services— 0563 FUNDING FOR FILM ILLAWARRA—Mr Ryan Park to ask the Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services— 0565 GARRAWARRA HOSPITAL—Mr Ryan Park to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 729 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Friday 9 September 2011 0566 GENERAL ASSISTANTS—Mr Ryan Park to ask the Minister for Education— 0567 ILLAWARRA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND—Mr Ryan Park to ask the Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services— 9 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 31) 0577 HYDRO-ELECTRIC GENERATION—Mr Kevin Conolly to ask the Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Central Coast— 0578 PLANNING FOR FLOOD EMERGENCIES—Mr Kevin Conolly to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— 0582 JOHN HUNTER HOSPITAL—ADDITIONAL BEDS—Ms Sonia Hornery to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0583 CALVARY MATER HOSPITAL, NEWCASTLE—ADDITIONAL BEDS—Ms Sonia Hornery to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0584 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— 0585 GRAFFITI OFFENCES—Mr Paul Lynch to ask the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— 0586 MONA VALE HOSPITAL MATERNITY SERVICES—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0587 FTE NURSE POSITIONS—NEPEAN HOSPITAL—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0588 BED OCCUPANCY RATES—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0590 BLACKTOWN HOSPITAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS—Dr Andrew McDonald to ask the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— 0591 AFFORDABLE HOUSING—Ms Clover Moore to ask the Minister for Family and Community Services, and Minister for Women— *0592 FOOTPATH AND ROAD TRENCHES—Ms Clover Moore asked the Minister for Transport representing the Minister for Roads and Ports— Noting the impact of the lack of coordination between utility providers resulting in different contractors excavating trenches in roads and footpaths for different agencies after permanent reinstatement of the footpath or roadway: (1) How does the Government ensure coordination of excavation required for water and energy utilities and road⁄footpath works; (2) How do those agencies contracting for trenches ensure that contractors carry out work needing excavation as promptly as possible to reduce impacts? (3) What review has been carried out to identify measures to streamline this excavation and closing of trenches? (4) What strategies have been examined that might improve coordination? (5) What plans does the Government have to improve coordination amongst agencies and contractors to reduce duplication, limited access, residential amenity impacts and costs? Answer— I am advised: (1) to (3) Government agencies and most utility providers are represented on the Streets Opening Conference (SOC), which is a voluntary association set up to coordinate activities of utility providers and 730 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Friday 9 September 2011 road agencies. The objectives of this association, membership of which includes the RTA, the Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA) representing local councils, and major utility providers (such as Sydney Water, Telstra, Ausgrid, and several others) include: • Fostering coordination of underground utility works. • Minimising impacts of those activities. • Minimising interference to traffic and pedestrians from road openings.