Mr DEAN ( Windermere ) - I also take up this issue. I can give an example which would certainly apply to DIER-controlled roads. The example I give is the Glen Esk Road in Launceston, which is in the control of the local government area. There is an area there which is council property because it is the verge, the nature strip area of this road, but it gives access to four different properties within the area. Currently there is wrangling; there is an argument between those property owners and council as to who is responsible. Aldermen visited this site only about four weeks ago to look at the area to see if a compromise could be reached.

Here I can see a similar thing arising. DIER, or the Government, has its requirements. DIER can send onto that property works, persons to carry out the work and they then have the right, of course, to send the account to the property owner. I suppose in a situation like that they would split it three or four ways or whatever it might be. It does raise a number of issues. I suppose you have the position of what is suitable and what is not; what is dangerous and what is not. A lot of these people would have a gravelled section coming onto the road, property owned by DIER. Is that the type of access that is acceptable to DIER? I would suggest in many instances it would not be, Madam President, and they would require that section to be sealed or cemented or what have you because if a vehicle was to run off onto the side of that gravelled area it could cause a crash to occur.

There are a number of issues here that I would like to be satisfied about. Also, who is going to be the judge of what is necessary and what is not? A lot of these people would not be able to afford that type of action - sealing an entrance into their property or cementing it or whatever they might need to do. So, it does raise a number of areas and issues but I can understand DIER wanting to take this action because they are responsible for many of these accesses, as is council and that is why the law is relative to council. Madam President, you and many others may not be aware of the number of people who do come forward wanting council support to get those driveways right for them because they say they cannot afford to do it.

It is an area that is very interesting. Let us see if the Leader is able to provide an answer to some of those issues that have arisen.