❓ Question addresses the delay of the Onslow seawall project, its funding source, and the impact on cyclone season protection. The Minister acknowledges delays due to community concerns about the initial design and ongoing consultations for a revised plan.
AnsweredQoN 532Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I preface my question by commending the Government on its decision to proceed with the Onslow seawall at a cost of $1.3 million over two years. (1) When is work expected to commence on the project? (2) Will Onslow be protected for the coming cyclone season? (3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(1) When is work expected to commence on the project? (2) Will Onslow be protected for the coming cyclone season? (3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(2) Will Onslow be protected for the coming cyclone season? (3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(1) When is work expected to commence on the project? (2) Will Onslow be protected for the coming cyclone season? (3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(2) Will Onslow be protected for the coming cyclone season? (3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(3) I refer the minister to page 79 of budget paper No 3, which states that the money for the Onslow project has been funded from reprioritisation of the total capital works program. What capital works have been deleted or delayed to enable the $1.3 million to be provided? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
(1)-(3) The capital works program is the global capital works of government that do not come within the specific purview of any individual minister. The forward estimates of the previous Government have been the subject of close review and have now been put into a new shape, which has included our $1.3 million pre-election commitment. The advice to government is that the basic engineering design of the Onslow seawall, which is contained in the report which was commissioned by the previous Government and which was made available to us upon arrival in office, would, in the view of many of the local people, destroy the amenity of Onslow by constructing something resembling the Great Wall of China between the community and the ocean. The view of some of the players in the local council and within the local community is that the design should be of a wall that will protect them from tidal surges and storms, but which does not cut off the town from a view of the ocean, destroy the beach or remove people’s capacity to gain access to boats and fishing opportunities, etc. That has put into the pot competing demands that must be worked through in a fresh approach to the engineering. The Chief Executive Officer of the Pilbara Development Commission has been working closely with the local community and the Ashburton Shire Council to bring forward a concept that, hopefully, will be rolled out during the next calendar year. Regrettably, that will leave the Onslow community without the much sought-after storm surge wall, which was our ambition to have available to the community this year. That ambition will not be met, but we will move quickly to ensure that an appropriate surge wall will be available to the community at the first opportunity.
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