(1)   In respect of the Regional Partnership grant for (a) Blayney Sea Link, and (b) MacSmith Milling Manildra in the electoral division of Calare announced during the 2004 election campaign, (i) what date was the project approved, (ii) what date did the Area Consultative Committee recommend funding the project, (iii) which Regional Partnerships eligibility criteria did the project satisfy, (iv) what are the expected employment outcomes for the project, (v) what sum was contributed to the project by the applicant, (vi) when did the project satisfy due diligence requirements, and (vii) what supporting documentation was supplied with the application.

(2)   Is he aware that his Parliamentary Secretary told ABC Radio in Orange on 26 November 2004 that the due diligence investigation of the two projects was yet to be completed.

(3)   Is he (a) aware that the recipient of the Manildra grant told the same ABC program that an offer “was on the table”; and (b) satisfied this comment indicated the project had been satisfactorily approved.

(4)   Can he confirm that the statement in the Western Advocate on 29 November 2004 quoting his spokesman as saying “funding is yet to be approved for the Blayney Sea-Link service” was correct at the time.

(5)   Is he aware that the then Parliamentary Secretary informed me on 28 and 29 September 2004 in separate letters that the projects had been approved.

(6)   Can he explain the contradiction between the two announcements.

(7)   Has each project received its funding; if so, when did this occur.

(1)  

(i)   Blayney Sea Link, 31 August 2004

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra, 31 August 2004         (ii)   (a) Blayney Sea Link - Central West ACC - reviewed at 30 March 2004 meeting.

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra - Central West ACC - reviewed at 5 August 2004 meeting.

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra - was assessed as meeting the outcomes, partnership and support, applicant viability and project viability criteria.         (iv)  (a) Blayney Sea Link employment intended outcomes - 40 new jobs within 12 months

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra intended employment outcomes - 7 new fulltime (FTE) positions with further additional 4 FTE by year 3 of mill operation.         (v)   (a) (b) I am not willing to divulge this potentially sensitive information without the approval of those partners. Funding inputs provided by project partners are not outcomes of the Minister’s or Parliamentary Secretary’s decision-making processes and do not represent funding which will be received from the Government. Regional Partnerships funding represented 48.08 per cent of the Blayney Sea Link project and 5.49 per cent of the MacSmith Milling Manildra project.         (vi)  (a) Blayney Sea Link: This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

(ii)  

(a)   Blayney Sea Link - Central West ACC - reviewed at 30 March 2004 meeting.

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra - Central West ACC - reviewed at 5 August 2004 meeting.

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra - was assessed as meeting the outcomes, partnership and support, applicant viability and project viability criteria.         (iv)  (a) Blayney Sea Link employment intended outcomes - 40 new jobs within 12 months

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra intended employment outcomes - 7 new fulltime (FTE) positions with further additional 4 FTE by year 3 of mill operation.         (v)   (a) (b) I am not willing to divulge this potentially sensitive information without the approval of those partners. Funding inputs provided by project partners are not outcomes of the Minister’s or Parliamentary Secretary’s decision-making processes and do not represent funding which will be received from the Government. Regional Partnerships funding represented 48.08 per cent of the Blayney Sea Link project and 5.49 per cent of the MacSmith Milling Manildra project.         (vi)  (a) Blayney Sea Link: This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

(iii)  

   (a) Blayney Sea Link - was assessed as meeting the outcomes, partnership and support, applicant viability and project viability criteria.

   (b) MacSmith Milling Manildra - was assessed as meeting the outcomes, partnership and support, applicant viability and project viability criteria.

   (b) MacSmith Milling Manildra intended employment outcomes - 7 new fulltime (FTE) positions with further additional 4 FTE by year 3 of mill operation.

   Regional Partnerships funding represented 48.08 per cent of the Blayney Sea Link project and 5.49 per cent of the MacSmith Milling Manildra project.

   This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

   Verbal independent advice was received from Westpac regarding the strength of the business case and Westpac advised that it would conduct its own due diligence checks but did not anticipate any problems. Considering this the Department felt it would be unnecessary duplication to undertake a further review, however, a condition of the funding contract was that written confirmation of applicant and partner funding from the managing financial institution (Westpac) was received before the first payment will be made.

   Business Plan

   Consolidated Profit and Loss for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Trading Account for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2003

   Budget Report for 2003 through to 2007

   Letters of support from Bartter Enterprises, Simplot Australia, Central Tablelands Water and Blayney Shire Council.

   Copy of Development Approval

   Business Plan

   Statement of Financial Performance for 3 years (2001 - 2003) and year to date 2004

   Quotes from Equipment Suppliers

   Copy of Certificate of Company registration

   Profit and Loss Statements 2003-04

   Financial report as at 30 June 2003

   Business Tax Returns (2002-03, 2001-02 and 2000-01)

   Land site drawing and plans

(iv)  

(a)   Blayney Sea Link employment intended outcomes - 40 new jobs within 12 months

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra intended employment outcomes - 7 new fulltime (FTE) positions with further additional 4 FTE by year 3 of mill operation.         (v)   (a) (b) I am not willing to divulge this potentially sensitive information without the approval of those partners. Funding inputs provided by project partners are not outcomes of the Minister’s or Parliamentary Secretary’s decision-making processes and do not represent funding which will be received from the Government. Regional Partnerships funding represented 48.08 per cent of the Blayney Sea Link project and 5.49 per cent of the MacSmith Milling Manildra project.         (vi)  (a) Blayney Sea Link: This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

(v)  

(a)   (b) I am not willing to divulge this potentially sensitive information without the approval of those partners. Funding inputs provided by project partners are not outcomes of the Minister’s or Parliamentary Secretary’s decision-making processes and do not represent funding which will be received from the Government. Regional Partnerships funding represented 48.08 per cent of the Blayney Sea Link project and 5.49 per cent of the MacSmith Milling Manildra project.         (vi)  (a) Blayney Sea Link: This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

(vi)  

(a)   Blayney Sea Link: This project is part of a multi stage development on which a full scoping and business plan was completed by Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu in 2002. The Department was satisfied the Commonwealth’s investment represented a low risk. The funding was for a component of one stage of the project (this being the service connection); there was significant financial investment from the applicant; and there were plans for future investment from the applicant. The Department considered undertaking an external viability to be unnecessary in these circumstances.

(b)  

   MacSmith Milling Manildra:

   Verbal independent advice was received from Westpac regarding the strength of the business case and Westpac advised that it would conduct its own due diligence checks but did not anticipate any problems. Considering this the Department felt it would be unnecessary duplication to undertake a further review, however, a condition of the funding contract was that written confirmation of applicant and partner funding from the managing financial institution (Westpac) was received before the first payment will be made.

   Business Plan

   Consolidated Profit and Loss for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Trading Account for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2003

   Budget Report for 2003 through to 2007

   Letters of support from Bartter Enterprises, Simplot Australia, Central Tablelands Water and Blayney Shire Council.

   Copy of Development Approval

   Business Plan

   Statement of Financial Performance for 3 years (2001 - 2003) and year to date 2004

   Quotes from Equipment Suppliers

   Copy of Certificate of Company registration

   Profit and Loss Statements 2003-04

   Financial report as at 30 June 2003

   Business Tax Returns (2002-03, 2001-02 and 2000-01)

   Land site drawing and plans

(vii)  

   (a) Blayney Sea Link - documents supplied:

   Business Plan

   Consolidated Profit and Loss for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Trading Account for year end 30 June 2003

   Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2003

   Budget Report for 2003 through to 2007

   Letters of support from Bartter Enterprises, Simplot Australia, Central Tablelands Water and Blayney Shire Council.

   Copy of Development Approval

   Business Plan

   Statement of Financial Performance for 3 years (2001 - 2003) and year to date 2004

   Quotes from Equipment Suppliers

   Copy of Certificate of Company registration

   Profit and Loss Statements 2003-04

   Financial report as at 30 June 2003

   Business Tax Returns (2002-03, 2001-02 and 2000-01)

   Land site drawing and plans

(b)  

   MacSmith Milling Manildra - documents supplied:

   Copy of Development Approval

   Business Plan

   Statement of Financial Performance for 3 years (2001 - 2003) and year to date 2004

   Quotes from Equipment Suppliers

   Copy of Certificate of Company registration

   Profit and Loss Statements 2003-04

   Financial report as at 30 June 2003

   Business Tax Returns (2002-03, 2001-02 and 2000-01)

   Land site drawing and plans

(2)   Yes

(3)   Yes

(4)   Refer to the answer to part (1)(a)(i).

(5)   Yes

(6)   The information quoted by my Parliamentary Secretary on the 25 November 2004 and my spokesman in the Western Advocate on 29 November 2004 was not correct. (7)   (a)   Blayney Sea Link - first payment of $57,255 (GST inc) was made on 12 October 2004 - second payment of $144,474 (GST inc) was made on the 7 December 2004.

(7) (a)   Blayney Sea Link - first payment of $57,255 (GST inc) was made on 12 October 2004 - second payment of $144,474 (GST inc) was made on the 7 December 2004.

(b)   MacSmith Milling Manildra - first payment of $303,787 (GST inc) is due to be paid on 30 April 2005.