Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
Sydney Water does not deny responsibility for the road collapse at Victoria Road Bellevue Hill and in
fact has accepted that a leak in its water main is likely to be the primary cause of the subsequent failure of
the main and the road collapse. To the extent that Sydney Water is responsible for the incident, the cost of
repairs will be met either from its insurers or from Sydney Water's own budget as appropriate. No
funding will be required from the State budget for this purpose.
Sydney Water has completed its work to replace the water main in Bellevue and Victoria Roads, Bellevue
Hill. Woollahra Council has arranged for the road and footpaths to be fully restored. This work is also
finished.
Sydney Water continues to work closely with Woollahra Council, local businesses and the community to
finalise all issues arising from the incident.
*7356 NEW LAWS FOR GRAFFITI OFFENDERS—Mr Peter Debnam asked the Premier, and Minister for the
Arts—
(1) Given the NSW Graffiti website says "NSW Premier Nathan Rees announced on 29 June 2009 that
the NSW Government would introduce tough new laws to force young graffiti offenders to clean up
their mess", what are these "tough new laws" and when will they be introduced?
(2) Given the NSW Graffiti website also says "the NSW Government will amend the Young Offenders
Regulation to mandate outcomes for graffiti offenders" when will the NSW Government amend the
Regulation and what outcomes will be mandated?
Answer—
The Government is strongly committed to combating graffiti and continues to consider measures that
may be effective in tackling this problem. It has introduced a number of laws such as the Graffiti Control
Act 2008, which sets out a range of offences such as intentionally damaging or defacing property with a
graffiti implement.
The Honourable Member is also referred to Clause 20A of the Young Offenders Regulation 2004 which
was inserted into the Regulation on 31 July 2009. Clause 20A requires graffiti offenders who undergo a
Youth Justice Conference under the Young Offenders Act 1997 to take remedial action, such as removing
graffiti or paying compensation.
*7357 SUICIDE PREVENTION—THE GAP—Mr Peter Debnam asked the Premier, and Minister for the
Arts—
What funding has been provided to Woollahra Council in the last two years for suicide prevention
measures at The Gap in Watsons Bay and what additional funding has been allocated in forward
estimates?
Answer—
The NSW Government currently targets funding at helping people at risk of suicide through a
comprehensive range of early intervention and prevention programs.
Services include both inpatient and community-based care for people with a mental illness as well as
preventative health measures such as education, early intervention and support for at risk individuals.
This includes:
• Specialist Mental Health training for School and TAFE counsellors to help them better identify at
risk youths and link them with local mental health services,
• Universal depression screening for every mother within 12 months of the birth of their child
• The Early Psychosis Program, which provides intervention for young people experiencing
psychosis.
Woollahra Council's proposed improvements to the Gap address a different sort of public safety issue, the
responsibility for which lies principally with the local council itself. The Department of Planning has,
however, provided a grant of $50,000 under the Metropolitan Greenspace Program for specific works
contained in the Masterplan. The Gap Park Masterplan includes suicide prevention measures, however
funding from Greenspace Program was provided to improve the physical appearance of Gap Park
including a new entry, ramp, signage, and bushland restoration, in line with the Program's criteria.
This funding was in addition to $31,000 previously allocated to Council in 2006 via the Metropolitan
Greenspace Program to assist in the preparation of The Gap Park Masterplan.
Applications for funding under the Program for 2009 have closed. It is expected that 2010 Metropolitan
Greenspace Program will open in April 2010.
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