Mr SERCOMBE (9:46 AM) —In recent decades the Maribyrnong River valley in Melbourne has undergone significant rejuvenation where its environmental values and recreational opportunities are broadly recognised. This has got particular focus at the moment because of the intent of the Department of Defence to dispose of some 14 hectares of land that they have occupied for many decades in the Afton Street, Essendon, area. Consultants' reports have been prepared in relation to that disposal. The consultants' reports, amongst other things, point out that this particular part of land has two regionally significant remnant grassland areas and two Aboriginal archaeological sites, along with a number of other features of some considerable importance in that part of Melbourne. The defence department's consultants' report says:

That particular proposition and desire of the defence department to generate some residential development on this site is totally rejected by the local community. It really has many significant problems to it.

I will briefly make two points from amongst the number of arguments that are relevant. Firstly, to gain access to the particular portion of the site that the defence department seems to wish to develop for residential purposes, a road will need to be constructed through an area that, as recently as January 1999, has been identified as badly contaminated. The topography of the area means that that road construction would have some difficulties with it and would certainly disturb badly contaminated areas. The evidence for that is a report prepared for Melbourne Water by a company called Enetech Pty Ltd. That proposition is not on, either for present or prospective local residents.

Secondly, the consultants' report that has been prepared for the defence department is, in fact, inaccurate in a number of areas. For example, the report says:

That is the rationale for some residential development. A check with DOFA has established that disposal of property at full market value is a policy position only and is not required by legislation. The consultants also talk about the inability to gift the land to the local council or other interest groups. Elsewhere in their report, that is precisely what they propose for the 85 per cent of the land that is not proposed for residential purposes. So the local community is in its rights to call for the enhancement of the recreational and environmental value— (Time expired)