CHAIR (Mrs Moylan) —Welcome. I declare open this public hearing into the proposed RAAF Base Pearce redevelopment stage 1, Pearce, Western Australia. This project was referred to the Public Works Committee on 31 May 2007 for consideration and report to the parliament. In accordance with subsection 17(3) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, which concerns the examination and reporting on a public work, the committee will have regard to the following: (a) the stated purpose of the work and its suitability for that purpose; (b) the necessity for or the advisability of carrying out the work; (c) in carrying out the work, the most effective use that can be made of the moneys to be expended; (d) where the work purports to be of a revenue-producing character, the amount of revenue that it may reasonably be expected to produce, and the present and the prospective public value of the work.

The committee earlier received a confidential cost-briefing from the Department of Defence and an inspection of the proposed works. The committee will now hear evidence from the Department of Defence and the Bullsbrook and Chittering Chamber of Commerce.

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