MINISTER HULLS SACRIFICES PRINCES PARK FOR PRIVATE PROFIT
Protectors of Public Lands Victoria was alarmed to learn last week that Planning Minister Hulls had “called in” The Big Day Out event and, in the face of enormous community opposition, had decided to amend the Melbourne Planning Scheme to allow this commercial rock concert to proceed in Princes Park next January 2006.
Thus at one fell swoop Minister Hulls bypassed Melbourne City Council, which was about to announce that TBDO required a planning permit to stage the event on Princes Park, and disenfranchised community groups, which now have no right of appeal. In our view, democracy is beginning to fray at the edges under the Bracks Government.
It was most concerning to discover that a young woman died as a result of injuries sustained at the Big Day Out in Sydney in January 2001. A civil claim by the parents of the deceased against the promoters of TBDO, the American band Limp Biskit and other parties is currently before the NSW courts. We hope that adequate security and safety for TBDO patrons and residents in surrounding neighbourhoods will be provided for the 2006 Melbourne event.
Minister Hulls says in his
press release of Wednesday 12 October 2005 that “in Princes Park we have a fantastic venue (for TBDO) - more area, more
grass, more trees…”. This is all very well but will there be any “grass and trees” left
after the multitudes - crowds of up to 46,000 rock fans – have invaded the
Park? We wish the Minister a happy TBDO
and expect that he will also be there on the following Monday morning along
with the garbage trucks helping with The Big Clean Up Day Out in Princes Park.
Contact: Rod Quantock Deputy President PPL VIC on 9486 2079 or Julianne
Bell Secretary PPL VIC 98184114 or 0408022408 Email jbell5@bigpond.com