Page 463 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) develop a parking management plan for the Manuka precinct for future games that takes into consideration the need for short term temporary parking for large numbers of cars at major events, recognising that not everyone can, or wants to, avail themselves of public transport, no matter how many buses are provided or how well they are promoted; and
(b) review existing catering facilities and service providers to ensure that appropriate staff, operating equipment and sufficient supplies of food are available so that patrons are not dissuaded from attending future matches.
I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion and it is with great pleasure but also a sense of disappointment that I move this motion today. The last two weeks here in Canberra have been absolute heaven on earth for sports tragics, and I count myself in that category and would venture to suggest that the sports minister does also. For Canberra cricket fans, it has been a dream come true. They have been privileged to be part of two magnificent matches, and it would really not have mattered who had won, although it was somewhat satisfying that both Australian teams were successful. And for Canberra fans, it was an extra bonus, an opportunity to watch two Australian cricket teams without having to travel interstate.
As an opportunity to showcase Canberra to the world, the one-day international match between Australia and the West Indies was outstandingly successful and one that government tourism should have been delighted with. Whether you were at the game or watched the one-day international on television, the oval looked magnificent, the crowds were colourful and well behaved, the commentary was more than generously complimentary to Canberra and the game was a sell-out.
The role that Cricket ACT played in never wavering from their belief that Canberra could stage quality cricket matches cannot be underestimated. I applaud the tenacity of Cricket ACT CEO Mark Vergano and Chairman Ian McNamee in pushing governments, local and federal, and in encouraging major corporate sponsors to get involved. Their hard work has paid off.
It could have been a total success. But it was not, and I regret having to say that. And the issue that has dampened the gloss on the event, and will continue to do so in future matches that are scheduled for the Manuka area, is one that could have been avoided and it is one that has also been brought to government before. That issue, of course, is parking. It is not a new issue to Canberra. It is not even a new issue for Manuka. Even without a sporting event at the oval, parking at Manuka is a nightmare on many days and nights every week, as it is to a lesser extent at Canberra Stadium. But for an oval at which several millions have just been spent to install lights and to provide additional seating, it seems almost Fawlty Towers like to not have worked out a better parking plan than extra buses and more parking inspectors.
The headlines the day after the event were shared between how well the oval looked and headlines like “Cricket hit for six for bad parking” and “Fans see red over parking tickets”. And the websites ran hot with abuse over the parking fines.
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