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Mr BARR: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for the Environment. Will the Government commission a new economic analysis of the proposal to lease the quarantine station at North Head, as recommended by the commission of inquiry, with regard to the change in circumstances that will result from the 240 additional consent conditions imposed on the co-proponents?
Mr DEBUS: I acknowledge the consistency of the stance adopted by the honourable member for Manly on the quarantine station issue, which must be contrasted with that of the North Shore Liberals, who apparently now oppose the leasing of the quarantine station. That is notwithstanding the fact that in June 1993 the honourable member for Gosford called for expressions of interest from developers to lease the site. He made a high-profile announcement suggesting that the redevelopment of the quarantine station at Manly would be a boon to the Australian tourism industry and the Manly area, and that it would enable the Government to generate the funds necessary to preserve what he called a magnificent collection of buildings. Although it has taken some time, I am implementing the original decision of the honourable member for Gosford.
[Interruption]
That makes the Leader of the Opposition laugh, for reasons that are beyond me. Following what has been a particularly exhaustive planning and approval process over the past 10 years, there are now two key statutory steps that are required to finalise a lease at the quarantine station. The first is to amend the Sydney Harbour National Park plan of management, the purpose of which is to specifically allow for the adaptive reuse of the quarantine station. Public exhibition of the amended plan of management closed in early August, and several hundred submissions were received. It is expected that the proposed amendment will be forwarded to the advisory council later this year and then shortly thereafter to me for final determination.
The second necessary statutory step is the advertising of the intent to issue a lease. I can inform the honourable member for Manly that that process is not far from being implemented; and the advertisement will go on public exhibition for 30 days to enable a process of public comment to occur. I remind honourable members that the quarantine station is a place of exceptional national and international heritage significance. It has considerable social, educational, and research value. Obviously, it is far too significant to be simply left in mothballs or, as is the case at present, enjoyed by only a few people, as most of it must remain closed and in mothballs.
Much of the quarantine station is in poor condition. Indeed, it was in poor condition when the site was placed under the management and control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service some decade or more ago, and it requires considerable work to ensure that it will be maintained successfully into the future. I remind honourable members that the proposal is to lease a part of the quarantine station for cultural tourism, accommodation and hospitality services. The entire aim is to allow a considerable increase in public access to this fascinating and historic site while at the same time generating the funds necessary to ensure that it can continue to be maintained. It would be a most substantial drain on the National Parks and Wildlife Service budget if it had to maintain these buildings without such an arrangement.
I must explain this to the members from the northern beaches, who have apparently lost all understanding of the strategy and philosophy adopted in relation to the quarantine station. The adaptive reuse and conservation of the existing buildings is not new. The principle is not a revolution. For instance, the Historic Houses Trust applies the same strategy and principle to almost every one of the dozen or so buildings that it administers. The same principle is applied to many of Sydney's most prominent heritage buildings. We look forward to the day when the quarantine station can assume its proper place on the tourists' itinerary of this great city.