First Victorians were hit with the news about the blowout of the 2006 Commonwealth Games budget to $1.1 billion. Then early last week plans were unveiled, which show that construction of a Games Village is an excuse for the Bracks Government to give away prime parkland and public assets to private real estate developers. Now we learn that the Government is going to legislate to legitimise these land deals.

Julianne Bell, Royal Park Protection Group Convenor, commented:

Colin Smith Deputy Convenor RPPG also commented: "The Government claims that they are building a ‘green’ development on the Royal Park Hospital site. In addition the developers say that they will create a ‘new park’ of 4 hectares. This huge real estate development, disguised as a Games Village, is far from being ‘green’ and it certainly won’t be a ‘park’. In fact, they are preparing to chop down over 1,000 trees to start with. The whole 20 hectares site should be returned to the community as public open space. Any intelligent approach to a denser city under Melbourne 2030 should recognise that these precious, irreplaceable open spaces, such as Royal Park, must be retained as the breathing spaces for the inner city population."

The Royal Park Protection Group will encourage members and allies in the environmental movement to protest about this draconian legislation – the Commonwealth Games Arrangements (Amendment) Bill - when it comes before Parliament in a week or so.