Commonwealth Games
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:28): (181) My question is to the Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy. Minister, when will you release the report from the EPA that details the contamination levels at the former saleyards site in Ballarat, which is the proposed site for the Commonwealth Games athletes village?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:29): Thank you, Mr McCracken, for that question. It is an opportunity for me to talk about the process of discussion and engagement not just with the EPA but with other agencies and organisations on the ground at the site of the former saleyards. One of the things, Mr McCracken – and I know that you, if not your colleagues, are interested in this answer – that we are doing is working very closely with agencies and organisations to understand the way in which site preparation and remediation needs to take place. This is part of ongoing conversations with the EPA. I am looking forward to seeing what the detail of that is, because that in and of itself will inform the remediation works that need to take place. As you would also be well aware, the buffer zones and reducing the impact on surrounding residential areas whilst also preserving the industrial components of land packages around that site are important to take account of and to consider as well.
As that work continues with the EPA, I am looking forward to being able to understand the impact of its assessment and what needs to happen. Obviously, though, to make it absolutely clear, remediation and improvement of the site will take place to the standards that are required and in order to be able to deliver a world-class facility that not only –
David Davis interjected.
Harriet SHING: Mr Davis, you should have asked this question if you are interested in this level of engagement.
Members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is answering the question.
Harriet SHING: We could do with some noise attenuation over there, I tell you what. The EPA is responsible for that.
Mr McCracken, I am really happy to have ongoing conversations with you given that you have a legitimate interest and a local interest in this matter that in fact involves the work on the site to develop it as far as preconstruction works are concerned. And of course the engagement with the EPA continues. The EPA is at the heart of this work as the independent statutory body responsible for making sure that all land – as far as contamination, decontamination and remediation go – is conducted in accordance with the statutory obligations that exist and that this is done not just in accordance with the EPA’s statutory remit but also as that relates to the standards required to develop residential accommodation on the site. I am looking forward to updating you on that work as it occurs.
The PRESIDENT: Just before I call Mr McCracken for his supplementary, and taking in commentary, I am not ever going to pretend that I know the executive responsibility of every minister, and that is why I let ministers answer if they inform the house that it is not their responsibility. But I would have thought releasing EPA reports would have fallen to the Minister for Environment. As I said, I am not going to pretend to be the expert ever, but I thought I would make that comment to assist Mr McCracken with his supplementary question.
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:32): I note that I still did not get a clear idea of when it will be released, but I might give you another shot. Given that the site is the subject of contamination and planning controls, as you refer to, will you release a time line of required works to provide certainty to the Ballarat community to ensure that the project is actually completed on time?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:33): Noting the exchange that we have had in the intervening period about the fact that this covers a number of portfolios, Mr McCracken, I am going to continue to engage with you in what I hope will be the good faith that you will take this in. We do have a number of geotech works and site investigations that have occurred across village locations around the state, and what we are doing is talking regularly with communities, with councils and with industry to consult with them about the work that needs to be done. As I have said – and this is in response to previous answers – construction is on track to commence later this year. The geotech work has actually occurred, and I am looking forward again, Mr McCracken, to having a conversation with you about the progress of that work. In addition to that I would welcome an opportunity to engage with the community directly on the progress of this matter as it occurs, including, as part of legacy round tables, that work does go on to make sure that the community and councils are apprised of developments as they occur.