North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:33): (1676) My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning. It has come to my attention that the Knox City Council in my electorate has been banning or severely limiting Scouts and Girl Guides from conducting sleepovers in their own buildings – their own halls. Overnight stays are an essential part of the scouting experience, and they have supervised leaders who have provided all forms of insurance and warranties to council. I am advised that Knox council’s position is that these halls are considered class 9B places of assembly under the National Construction Code and that overnight accommodation is not allowed unless exorbitant surveyor fees – on each and every occasion costing up to $1400 – are paid. This clearly was not the intention of the law, and it is severely curtailing decades – nearly a century – of scouting tradition in our areas. Could I ask the minister to please commit to reviewing the Building Act 1993, the construction code and any other relevant legislation so we can rectify this problem as soon as possible?