Vic: National Trust says MCG upgrade is vandalism

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2000
Vic: National Trust says MCG upgrade is vandalism

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 AAP - Members of Australia's peak heritage lobby group the National
Trust today protested outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground over a planned $400-million
redevelopment of the stadium.

Trust councillor Julianne Bell said the proposed redevelopment would be an act of vandalism
if it went ahead.

Ms Bell said the stadium's Members' Pavilion and historic Long Room would be "bulldozed"

if the works went ahead, and their cultural significance would be lost.

She said thousands of pamphlets opposing the redevelopment had been handed out to those
attending today's Boxing Day test match, and many had expressed support for the trust's
view.

"This is one of the last architectural reminders of Melbourne's sporting and social
heritage," Ms Bell said.

"It really is one of the icons of Melbourne's history, and to have all visible reminders
removed is just a tragedy.

"We would consider it to be vandalism to demolish it without any kind of consultation."

Ms Bell said any attempts to recreate the Long Room in the new development would be
nothing more than a replica, and the room itself should be retained.

The existing facades of the stands should also be retained, she said.

Ms Bell also criticised the timing of the redevelopment announcement on Friday before
Christmas, saying the trust had no opportunity to comment on the plans.

However, Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) secretary Stephen Gough said the plans and a
conceptual model were now on display for public comment.

The views of the National Trust would also be considered, he said.

"We're willing to take on board all comment. We look forward to receiving all comments
from all interested parties," Mr Gough said.

He said the MCG's cultural significance would be carefully considered in the redevelopment,
but some aspects of the stadium would inevitably change.

"The difficulty I think in recreating or changing (the stands) is always going to be
that it will be different, and until we get all the comments and the architects (finalise
the design), we're not sure exactly what we're going to get," he said.

"But as the project team and the heritage consultant have said, you have to mix what
has been the great traditions of the club with also an upgrade of members' facilities.

"So it's a difficult compromise and it will be best achieved by consultation and the
arguments we get back over the next four to six weeks."

Mr Gough said a survey of MCC members had found 75 per cent favoured a comprehensive
upgrade of the Members' Pavilion, with 90 per cent wanting key heritage components such
as the long room recreated in the redevelopment.

AAP bp/mg/de

KEYWORD: MCG STAND TRUST NIGHTLEAD

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