Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
1624 COUNCIL Wednesday, 1 June 2011
The message is very clear from Fatality Free Friday:
there is a responsibility for the community to be
engaged in ensuring that we as individual road users
use our roads in a safe way. I am pleased to report that
as part of Fatality Free Friday drivers are being
encouraged to sign up to a pledge to use our roads in a
safe manner. Last Friday more than 30 000 pledges
were signed Australia-wide by people who have
committed to using our roads responsibly. Responsible
drivers are a key element of road safety, and the
government would encourage all Victorian drivers to
get behind the message of Fatality Free Friday and
ensure that we act responsibly on our roads so we can
ensure that our road toll in the future is lower than in
the past.
Rail: regional link
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — My
question is for the Minister for Planning, Mr Guy, in
relation to the regional rail link project. The relevant
planning controls for this project are to be found in an
incorporated document to local planning schemes, and
at section 5.2 it says that the works:
… must be undertaken generally in accordance with an
environmental management plan prepared to the satisfaction
of the responsible authority. The environmental management
plan must provide an integrated and accountable framework
for managing environmental effects during project
construction and operation.
Given that the works have been announced for July, can
the minister tell me: has that environmental
management plan been received by him; is it to his
satisfaction; and if so, can we see a copy?
Hon. M. J. GUY (Minister for Planning) — It is a
good question again from Mr Barber in relation to the
regional rail link (RRL) section 1. The house would be
aware that RRL1 and the management plan that is
required contain clauses for exemptions for preparatory
works within the incorporated document. The works
that are taking place in July are to move the existing
tracks in the Tottenham area by about 7 to 8 metres. It
is not constructing new track; it is moving existing
track to allow the construction of new tracks for the
RRL which will eventually be put in place. Moving the
existing tracks by 7 to 8 metres is considered to be
consistent with what was put in place by the previous
government in the environmental management plan for
the exemptions in the incorporated document, which
allow for that minor and preparatory work to proceed
before the presentation of the document to the
responsible authority, which is me.
Supplementary question
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — The
minister is saying that the works that will be done are
under that definition in paragraph 5.4 of the
incorporated document. Can the minister give some
indication to the community as to when that
environmental management plan is likely to be
prepared and available, because it is effectively the only
document that tells the community what the impact of
this project is on their community? By the way, there
will be construction impacts as a result of these
preparatory works. The entire rail line is being shut
down for two weeks, thank you very much. My
supplementary question is: when will that
environmental management plan be prepared, and will
it be made available?
Hon. M. J. GUY (Minister for Planning) — It is
required three months before the major construction
begins, and that time line will be adhered to. I am
expecting it fairly soon. Mr Barber is quite right in
noting the absence of an environment effects statement,
because it is very important that this document be
presented and be considered before the major works
take place. As I have stated, consistent with the
incorporated document, we believe that the moving of
the track 7 to 8 metres, which will result in disruptions
to the existing network, is not consistent with being a
major track work event in relation to the laying of a
large amount of new rail. But it is consistent with those
preparatory works, which are given an exemption under
paragraph 5.4 of the permit. As I have stated, that will
be coming fairly quickly and the three-month provision
will be adhered to before the major works commence.
Toolamba: kindergarten funding
Mrs PETROVICH (Northern Victoria) — My
question without notice is to the Minister for Children
and Early Childhood Development, who is also the
Minister for Housing. I ask the minister: what action
has the Baillieu government taken to secure the future
kindergarten needs of young families living in
Toolamba?
Hon. W. A. LOVELL (Minister for Children and
Early Childhood Development) — I thank the member
for her interest in the ongoing education of the children
of Toolamba, which is a very important, vibrant and
thriving community in our electorate of Northern
Victoria Region. In order to answer this question I
should reflect a little on the history of what has
happened at Toolamba. In the early hours of 3 February
last year both Toolamba Primary School and the