Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the 5th report of 2009 of the committee, Fit-out and external works, Anzac Park West, Parkes, and fit-out of Tuggeranong Office Park, Greenway, ACT, and seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

This report addresses proposals to fit out two buildings in Canberra: Anzac Park West in Parkes and Tuggeranong Office Park in Greenway. In both cases the committee has recommended that the Senate agree to the works proceeding.

The first project discussed in the report is the fit-out of Anzac Park West in Canberra for the Department of Defence. The project was referred to the committee on 14 May 2009 at an estimated cost of $45.5 million. Anzac Park West is a heritage building, as well as being an important part of the National Capital Plan. The committee is pleased to consider a project that will see it occupied after a very extended period of vacancy. This building first came before the committee in 2006 in a proposal by the Australian Federal Police. Senators may be aware that this inquiry was rescinded from the committee’s consideration, and thus it did not have the opportunity to complete this inquiry and some $48 million was spent on base building works. The building was ultimately too small to accommodate the AFP, and it has remained empty. This series of events is unfortunate and the committee discusses its specific concerns in the report.

Given this background, the committee is happy to see the Department of Defence plans to occupy the building. The re-use of an existing building will realise significant savings in both money and energy, and demonstrates the opportunities to creatively refurbish buildings almost half a century old and greatly extend their economic life.

The second project discussed in the report is the fit-out of Tuggeranong Office Park in Canberra for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The project was referred to the committee on 28 May this year at an estimated cost of $29.8 million. The department has occupied parts of the Tuggeranong Office Park since 1991, and the building generally is in need of base building works to maintain it as a safe work environment. In addition, the department will refit much of the building to improve disability access and environmental performance. The department is to be commended on its use of environmental initiatives, in particular the extensive use of water tanks to service the grounds and some parts of the building.

This proposal also raised some concerns for the committee, particularly in terms of the investment over a short lease term. However, the committee ultimately accepted the department’s assurances that the proposal represented value for money for the Commonwealth. I would like to thank the committee members for their work in relation to this inquiry and I commend the report to the Senate.

Question agreed to.