Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
Capital Works at Applethorpe Research Station |
![]() |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jul 24 2006 |
| Questions On Notice >> |
Mr LAWLOR: Minister, I refer to page 1-39 of the Ministerial Portfolio Statement. There seems to have been much criticism of the rescheduling of capital works at the Applethorpe Research Station. Can you give us some details about this project?
Mr MULHERIN: The comments by the opposition leader on 19 April 2006 that there has been a cut in the department's capital budget and that services at Applethorpe Research Station will be impacted are very misleading. He has been advised in answer to a question on notice on 10 April 2006 that the projects have not been cut. They have been rescheduled in order to enable the early construction of other projects in 2006-07.
The information supplied in response to question on notice No. 364 tabled on 10 April 2006 shows clearly that two of the projects have been rescheduled to enable funding to the glasshouse at the Redlands Research Station as part of the Queensland Crop Development Facility and the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre extension, which the member for Pumicestone-
Mrs CARRYN SULLIVAN: Great to see.
Mr MULHERIN: The member knows it well. The Queensland Crop Development Facility is a strategic collaboration between the department, the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland. It will provide world-class, high-security glasshouse in vitro growth facilities for plant science research that will benefit the whole of the state. The relocation of Sustainable Fisheries research staff to the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre will provide a world-class facility for
combined fisheries and aquaculture research with a more efficient and integrated structure.
The Applethorpe Research Station is now scheduled to commence in 2008-09, with completion planned for 2009-2010. The Applethorpe research facility services the temperate fruit industry of Queensland, which grows fruit from Stanthorpe to Charters Towers. The rescheduling of the upgrade of Applethorpe Research Station will not impact on research into the apple industry. The department has a
full complement of research staff at Applethorpe and they are able to deliver on projects as required.
The new facility will not bring a change in staff numbers. It is a new-for-old upgrade. The upgrade will remove old office laboratory infrastructure for a modern facility. The original published budget estimate of $1.8 million was not realistic for the scope of the project. The preliminary project estimate by the Department of Public Works in early 2006 was $6.5 million. The rescheduling will allow for increased funding to be available to address the project's brief in a more holistic manner.
I think all members would be aware of the significant costs that have arisen in Queensland in the building industry because of the mining industry and the demand for labour. That impacts not only on
government but also on the cost of projects in the private sector. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 3:51 PM
Back
|
