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Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Page: 4361

Mr GRAY (Brand—Special Minister of State and Minister for the Public Service and Integrity) (17:42): I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: development and construction of housing for Defence members and their families at Lindfield, New South Wales.

Defence Housing Australia, DHA, proposes to develop a 13.8 hectare prime property abutting Lane Cove National Park in Lindfield, New South Wales. The site is about 3.5 kilometres from the Chatswood commercial centre and 14 kilometres from the Sydney CBD.

This site has been used for tertiary education purposes since its development by the New South Wales government in 1969 for a teachers college. When colleges of advanced education were amalgamated into universities it was transferred to the University of Technology Sydney, UTS, and became known as UTS Kuring-Gai. DHA purchased the land by public tender from UTS in March 2011. The DHA development is adjacent to UTS Kuring-Gai and will complement the area.

This proposal will involve road and civil infrastructure development, followed by the construction of 345 dwellings for an integrated residential community for the Department of Defence and other families. Following site development, construction will be undertaken to deliver 345 dwellings in five precincts. The site will provide housing for families of personnel posted to Fleet Base East, to major Defence establishments in the Sydney CBD and to other units and formations scattered around the Greater Sydney area. The site's close proximity to Chatswood, the Macquarie Centre and Macquarie Park also provides Defence families with opportunities for employment, entertainment and shopping.

The project costs of $202 million, inclusive of GST and escalation but excluding cost of land, will be met by DHA and recovered through the sale of surplus lots and the DHA sale and leaseback program. Subject to parliamentary approval, civil construction is expected to commence in November 2012, with dwelling construction to be completed by November 2016. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.