Page 1340 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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The advertisement in the Canberra Times of 28 April 1990 invited comments on:
A proposal to construct a fence at Stage '88.
The committee received six submissions in response to this advertisement; three in favour of a fence and three opposed. Unfortunately, the respondents appeared to have assumed that the proposal was to construct a permanent fence. For example, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, to whom Mrs Grassby has referred, wrote to express opposition, as follows:
For the area to be permanently fenced for the exclusive use of special interest groups.
The Government's proposal is to construct a combination of demountable and permanent fencing at Stage '88. (Extension of time granted) It should be noted that the majority of the fence would be demountable and will be erected only for special events. Limited permanent fencing is planned to take account of sloping ground and existing plantings, but will not impede movement. Hence, the opposition to the fence as presented to the committee was based on a misunderstanding of the Government's proposal. The committee further considered the viability of a temporary fence. They expressed a valid concern that there would be pressure to leave the fence up for long periods, making it de facto permanent. I can assure members that the temporary fencing proposed for Stage '88 is just that - temporary. A key element of its design is that it can be easily erected and removed, and at a cost that is not prohibitive to potential hirers. The Government's view on the policy for use of this fencing is clear. It is and must be seen as demountable fencing used only for single events as required by occasional hirers.
As to the management of the facility, the committee has questioned the continuation of the current arrangements with the Canberra Theatre Trust. The Government does not support the suggestion that the venue could be managed by the Department of Urban Services because of its experience in running museums. The manager of the facility clearly needs expertise in the performing arts. It is the Government's view that, as the major presenter of performing arts in the Territory, the Canberra Theatre Trust is the ideal manager of the Territory's premier outdoor performing arts venue.
The Government thanks the members of the standing committee for their consideration of this matter. The committee's efforts and the resulting recommendations have assisted the Government considerably in its deliberations on the final chapter of the Stage '88 project. Having given full consideration to the history of the project, it is clear
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