Ms O’CONNOR QUESTION to MINISTER for PARKS, MR DUIGAN
Gosh, no wonder the industry is lobbying the Liberals on pokies; they are raking it in.
Back to the Lewisham Foreshore, would it be possible for you to bring a response to the Lewisham Foreshore Management Association letter back to this place? You have been asked a question by a member in here and have not been able to provide information, because your office has only just received the letter. The question stands. I ask you to bring some information back next week. What is your response to this letter and that there was no agreement with locals and there was no consultation. When I finish this question I ask for you to make that commitment.
The question is, what is the plan to protect the Lewisham Foreshore and the dunes? First of all, what is the plan? Is it your plan, or is it Jason Jacobi’s plan to protect the Lewisham Foreshore?
ANSWER
Mr President, I will seek some advice.
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RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Mr PRESIDENT – Honourable members, while the minister is seeking advice, I welcome a second group from Reconciliation Tasmania’s Youth Speak Out program. We are currently in question time at the moment, where honourable members of the Legislative Council get to ask questions of the government. I am sure all members will join me in making you welcome to the Chamber today.
Members – Hear, hear.
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Mr DUIGAN – I thank the member for the question around Lewisham. It is an interesting place. There is obviously a challenge there with coastal erosion, and there has been over time. In terms of our plan, I would point to the works that have been done. These certainly provide substantial upgrades to what was at Lewisham in the not-too-distant past. In terms of access points, there are access stairs that have been designed and certified by the PWS engineers, pitt&sherry. These meet the requirements for the National Construction Code, which is a far cry from what was there in terms of access up until very recently. As I understand it, there are two stairways down onto the beach. They provide a much more secure point of access and egress onto the beach for people of all abilities.
There is still, as I understand it, a live conversation about exploring the options of a third access point. That is something I know some community members, having met with them subsequent to the works, are keen to progress. There is new fencing. A contractor fixed minor issues with the fence and subsequent inspection on 20 September found the fence to be safe and fit for purpose. We have realigned and resurfaced the track, and provided some level of disability access. The new track is of a similar style to what was originally there. Consideration was given to the possibility of building a more substantial wider track, but that was not favoured by many of the locals as they wanted to avoid the notion of there being a superhighway‑type thing in front of their place. The final track design was based off the existing track style and its length. In review, consideration of the requirements of PWS track design were followed. That is scope of the works completed to this point. It is a watching brief. This is an actively mobile landform.
Regarding the letter that my office has received, I will not make a commitment having not seen the letter.
Ms O’Connor – To respond to it.
Mr DUIGAN – I will not make that commitment to you here. I do not know what it contains. I do not know how long it will take us to substantially respond to that.
Ms O’Connor – I have a copy. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. We are back here next week.
Mr DUIGAN – I am not trying to dodge it. I will be back here next week.
