ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE FIRST DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO
MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS
AT THE ELEVENTH SITTING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE THIRD
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
MONDAY, 13^TH NOVEMBER, 2017

Question 1

Madam Speaker, given the severe damage to the public road network throughout the Territory in general, and to the portion of road from Sebastian’s in Little Apple Bay to the Isabella Morris Primary School in Carrot Bay, would the Minister for Communications and Works please state for this Honourable House what specific corrective actions are being taken or will be taken for temporary repair measures in the first instance, and for permanent solutions in the near future? and;

1. Confirm whether or not an assessment, design and estimates were completed or are in the process of being completed?
2. Provide this Honourable House with a copy of each assessment, design and the associated cost? 
3. If an assessment or design has not been completed, then please confirm that both the assessment and design will be provided to the Members of this Honourable House prior to finalisation so that public input can be sought?

Answer 1

Madam Speaker, teams comprising the Public Works Department and contractors from the First District have been engaged to implement a temporary solution to the road from Sebastian’s at Little Apple Bay and onward to Carrot Bay. These works include measures to make the road motorable for vehicular traffic in the interim. We intend to raise the roads, installing appropriate drainage, in areas where it was completely destroyed, in order to reduce further erosion.

Madam Speaker, the Government has commenced dialogue with the property owners within the area. It is anticipated that a permanent solution, which involves the possible acquisition of some land adjacent to the current road, may be necessary, to allow for the road improvement over the long term.

1. Madam Speaker, an assessment was completed by the Public Works Department and a design solution is in progress. I am not able to provide an estimated cost at this time.

ii)   Madam Speaker, I hereby submit to this Honourable House a copy of the assessment that has been completed to date.  However, the designs are not yet completed. Therefore, I am unable to provide designs and estimated costs for completion to this Honourable House at this time.

iii)  Madam Speaker, Public consultation will take place at the appropriate stage of the long term development, prior to implementation.