Tomorrow marks the start of a marathon - ten days of public hearings by the Planning Advisory Committee appointed by Games Minister Madden to examine plans for the 2006 Games Village. Public confidence in the Minister and in the public consultation process over the Village has now, however, sunk to an all time low.

Julianne Bell RPPG Convenor points out: "Last week when the Commonwealth Games Arrangements (Amendment) Bill passed through Parliament community suspicions were confirmed that the controversial Royal Park Games Village is just an excuse for a luxury, private real estate development. Then we heard the Minister say about the Games Village… "My understanding is that heads of agreement have been signed in relation to the development …by and large the development will proceed according to the manner in which it has been proposed." We are now wondering that, if the Planning Advisory Committee makes recommendations as to changes to the Games Village plans, whether the government is capable of implementing them."

Now our legal advisors tell us that the Planning Advisory Committee status is at best unclear.

The legal advice includes the following comment: "A crucial aspect of the Committee’s task is to advise the Minister concerning the Games Village "inclusive of both pre and post-Games elements". The reference to "post-Games elements" is an important aspect of the work of the Committee, given the substantial scope of works proposed to be commenced on the Royal Park site following the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. It is (however) …by no means certain that the Committee has been properly empowered to enquire into the post-Games development of a substantial residential development on the site of the Games Village."

Then the advice states: "The Committee is purported to be established under the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Act 2001, which does not contemplate a Committee being appointed to consider the development of a large residential precinct to be developed well after the completion of the Games closing ceremony."

The Royal Park Protection Group is planning to seek release under FOI of the "heads of agreement" referred to by the Minister. We know that it will be likely to be opposed on the grounds that it is "commercial in confidence". There is, however, a genuine public interest in assessing just how much of the form of the ‘post-games’ residential development on the Royal Park site is a fait accompli. Premier Bracks promised openness and transparency when he came to power – so we say let’s have some transparency over the Games Village arrangements.

Note that the Royal Park Protection Group will be making a submission at the Planning Advisory Committee hearings from 2:45 pm to 4:45 pm on Tuesday 27 May 2003. Copies of our submission may be obtained by ringing the numbers given below.