Rally opposes Games Bill at Parliament 18/9/2001 – ‘Don’t Play Games with our Democratic Rights’

Premier Bracks, who came to power promising decency, democracy and openness of government, introduced - with no public consultation or notice - the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Bill to Parliament and is about to fast-track it through the Lower House. Reminiscent of the Grand Prix Act, the Bill bypasses the checks and balances of democratic processes and deprives citizens of their rights.

This represents an extraordinary suspension of ordinary process as it exempts Commonwealth Games 2006 venues from planning, environment, heritage, building and coastal management Acts plus residential tenancies and local council controls. It contains draconian provisions, which can be used to prevent or hinder peaceful protest. Despite ALP pre-election rhetoric, it contains none of the ESD (Ecologically Sustainable Development) guidelines, which made the Sydney Games the first green summer Olympics.

The Bill covers the construction of the MCG super stadium in Yarra Park, the games village (almost certainly to be located in Royal Park) and a second swimming complex in Albert Park, plus other facilities as they come on line. The netball and hockey stadiums have already been built in Royal Park and the Vodaphone stadium in Melbourne Park. It is notable that the Games venues and possibly the village are in or adjoining prime parkland in central Melbourne, unlike the Sydney Olympics.

A letter presented to Sports Minister Madden in Parliament at a meeting following the rally reads:

Signed: Scott Kinnear (The Greens), Julianne Bell (Royal Park Protection Group also for the Parkville Association), and Harry Ward (Save Albert Park). We thank all members, friends and supporters who attended the rally and brought banners and placards to spell out the messages to Parliament.

On 17 September 2001 the Environment Liaison Office representing peak environment groups, namely the Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Environment Victoria, Victorian National Parks Association and the Wilderness Society Victoria wrote to the Premier, with copies to Ministers Madden and Pandazopoulos, opposing the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Bill. The ELO urged that ESD Guidelines be incorporated into the legislation and an independent organisation be set up with a ‘watch dog’ role modelled on the Green Games Watch 2000 set up for the Olympics.

Our campaign continues to ensure that the Games Village is located on an appropriate site such as the Docklands, NOT on the ‘Parkville site’ ie the former Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital site on the north-west boundary of Royal Park. The Village location is not specified in the legislation. The Government has, however, treated the choice of the ‘Parkville site’ as a fait accompli. A project team in the Office of Major Projects is currently drawing up plans to locate the Village here.

The RPPG made submissions, favourably received, to Melbourne Council Environment and Planning Committees opposing the ‘Parkville site’ for the Village. It is extremely isolated, lacks a shopping centre and community services and the neighbours are unsuitable (a security prison, CSL and new wetlands ie a Zoo effluent discharge pond). The Government has discovered (surprise, surprise) the site is too small so proposes to build UPWARDS ie high rise tower blocks (12 to 20 storeys) next to the freeway. There is difficult car access, no nearby public transport and light glare, noise and pollution from Tullamarine freeway. We predict loss of residential amenity for West Parkville and Brunswick residents and a threat to the Hospital heritage buildings. Our chief concern is the prospect of damage to Royal Park with a small suburb constructed on its boundaries. It is inimical to the regeneration of Royal Park (now one of the biggest projects undertaken by the City of Melbourne) and to the development of habitat for birds and animals. It runs contrary to the campaign for retention of City open space now being promoted by Parks Victoria. Locating the Village on this site is contrary to ESD Guidelines for staging Green Games.

Future action planned includes representations to Government Ministers and the Liberal Opposition. Continued lobbying is needed from the public so please contact your local State MP plus Ministers with the message ‘Green Games for Melbourne in 2006’. Attend the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill.

This great juggernaut of a Study keeps rolling on. In the last newsletter, we reported that the community suspected that the real intention of the Study is not to solve northern suburbs' traffic congestion problems. It was seen as giving the go-ahead to VicRoads’ pet project, promoted by the Kennett Government, of extending the Eastern Freeway in a tunnel through Carlton, Parkville and Royal Park to the Tullamarine freeway (western City Link). While Transport Minister Batchelor denied this, the Study Team declared that the ‘tunnel option’ was still being considered.

A recent Study report on Issues and Trends, however, casts real doubt over whether the freeway link should be built. It found that 5% of traffic from the eastern freeway heads for Tullamarine freeway (as we already knew). The clear cause of the problem of inner north traffic congestion is stated to be the Eastern Freeway. Traffic volumes have increased by 30,000 to 140,000 vehicles a day with the extension of the freeway to Springvale Road. Dr Paul Mees, who represents the RPPG on the ‘Community Reference Group’ (ie the Study Advisory Committee), considers that Government plans to extend the freeway from Ringwood to Frankston would create a disaster at the City end adding at least 30,000 vehicles a day. The report found in favour of improved public transport and air quality and indicated there is a demand for more facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. A community workshop was held on 15 September 2001 at the Melbourne Museum to discuss the results. While community groups have made it clear that the ‘freeway option’ is dead, eternal vigilance is the message. Another report is due for community comment later this year before a final strategy is to be developed in the middle of next year.

The Royal Park Master Plan Implementation Committee

RPPG is a Committee member, and together with three other community groups, is working with the City of Melbourne to revegetate Royal Park. A community planting day is to be held in Royal Park on 7 October 2001 on the railway cutting to extend the habitat of the White Skink. The launch of the North Melbourne Spring Fling Festival will be held at the community planting. See below in What’s On.

We have continued to make representations to the State Government and to the City of Melbourne to have the Royal Park State Netball and Hockey Centre (SNHC) lights rectified to control the obtrusive light spill and glare. These degrade the Park, affect the Zoo, destroy residential amenity of surrounding suburbs and blot out the night sky.

In a case of monumental ‘buck passing’, the Chair of the SNHC Advisory Committee advised that the operation of the lights is a problem for the Office of Major Projects (OMP). The OMP, the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Department of Infrastructure have advised that the problem is to be raised with the SNHC Advisory Committee. The CEO of the City of Melbourne appears to have given up on the problem entirely, telling us that he had sent an officer to inspect the lights who could not observe a problem. The CEO admitted, however, that City of Melbourne staff was not qualified to judge.

Quotable quote: ‘Steve Bracks had a conversion on the road to the Commonwealth Games’ Denis Napthine, Leader of Liberal Opposition, praising Bracks on the introduction of the draconian Commonwealth Games Arrangements Bill (3AW on 24 August 2001).

Over the past three months, Metropolis Media papers (The Melbourne Times and the Emerald Hill Times) have given us excellent coverage and have frequently published our letters on issues relating to our campaigns outlined above. Also the Leader Group (Yarra and Brunswick Leader) has covered issues especially the location of the Games Village on the ‘Parkville site’. RPPG has a major feature in every quarterly edition of the North Melbourne News including the September edition on the Games Village. The mainstream print media has given next to no coverage on the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Bill, apart from a burst of publicity about proposal to put the Games Village on the Jolimont Railyards.

Commercial radio - 3AW Neil Mitchell and 3AK Greg Evans (morning program) and Nick Pappas (evening drive program) - has given RPPG air time for proper interviews. Also a number of 3CR Community Radio Programs. An interview on the Jon Faine ABC 774 Morning Program was not so successful. Major Projects Minister John Pandazopoulos was given the greater part of the time to defend the Government’s handling of the choice of a Games Village location. Although invited to take part in the discussion, RPPG was cut off after a minute or so. 3AW radio news usually covers RPPG media announcements. Not so the ABC radio news. A new policy has been introduced – the ABC will not mention ‘demonstrations’ in advance on the radio news bulletins especially when the Premier might be around. Nor will they cover it after the demonstration because it is old news!

Community Spring Planting along the railway cutting in West Royal Park. Help restore the home of the native skink and revegetate the Park. Organised by the City of Melbourne and actively supported by RPPG. Enter via Manningham Street Parkville. Melways Map Reference 29 C12. Spring Fling Launch 12:30 pm. Free lunch provided. Contact: Greg Thorpe 9347 4200.

Book launch of ‘The Collaborative Games’. Hear about the success of the Sydney Olympics – the first green summer games in history. Support our Earthworker and union friends. Held at 4:15 pm Old Arts Building Theatre D University of Melbourne or at 6:15 pm at the Trades Hall, Lygon Street, Carlton.

Spring Fling 2001 – North and West Melbourne Community Festival 12 noon to 5 pm at North Melbourne Town Hall. RPPG will have a stall in the Town Hall and needs helpers. Ring 98184114.

Monthly RPPG Meeting at 7:30 pm North Melbourne Library, 66 Errol Street North Melbourne.

Royal Park Protection Group 2001 AGM. Professor Bill Russell, a leading public transport commentator, will speak on the subject ‘Can Freeways and Parks Coexist? 7:30 pm North Melbourne Library 66 Errol Street, North Melbourne.

To continue to operate effectively, RPPG needs urgent financial support. RPPG is an independent organisation and is not in the pocket of any vested interest or political party. We speak out, without fear or favour. RPPG relies entirely on its members. Save Royal Park from being transformed into one big sportsfield and carpark divided by a freeway and from being destroyed by having a small suburb (ie the Games Village) built on its front doorstep. Help us support fellow resident and environment organisations. If you have not already done so please renew your membership for this financial year and, if possible, provide a donation. Margaret Finger, RPPG Treasurer, Phone: 94810401 or at above address.

A memorable quote from the rally on the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Bill: ‘The CFMEU supports green games, which highlights the use of Australian products and showcases our construction industry. The alienation of public parkland is opposed on environmental grounds. It is smarter to restore wasteland and create more jobs than pushing over more trees. We are opposed to Kennett style legislation, which rides roughshod over citizens’ rights to achieve unpopular objectives.’ Martin

Kingham Secretary of the CFMEU message to the rally. (18/9/2001)