Page 982 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007
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league finals series for the past three years. These series have been held at Canberra Stadium on consecutive weekends in September following the conclusion of the Canberra Raiders season. The junior rugby union finals series involved 26 matches over three days and the rugby league finals series involved 13 matches over two days.
Of course, having 39 matches played across two consecutive weekends does place a significant strain on the playing surface. But this was offset by the fact that the surface was allowed to recover during the off-season, given that there were no other major games played at Canberra Stadium once these finals series had been played.
However, there is now a new national rugby competition involving the ACT rugby union that is being played for the very first time this year. It will be known as the Australian Rugby Championships, the ARC. It will involve four matches being played at either Manuka Oval or Canberra Stadium in August and September, plus the potential for the Canberra Vikings, should they go as well as we expect them to, to be involved in two further finals matches in early October.
Territory Venues and Events within my department has responsibility for the maintenance of the surface of Canberra Stadium in national and international competitions. With the Australian Rugby Championships and the potential for the last use to be in mid-October, the increased use has meant that there has been a need to rethink the conduct of the junior rugby union and rugby league finals weekends.
For 2007, the junior rugby union and rugby league initially requested weekend dates that preceded or clashed with commitments for the National Rugby League or the Australian Rugby Championships. Officials from my department have met with both the junior rugby league and rugby union organisations, and also representatives from the Brumbies and the Raiders—Andrew Fagan and Don Furner—on several occasions to seek a resolution for the 2007 finals series.
I am very pleased to advise the Assembly that all parties have now agreed that both finals series can be played at Canberra Stadium on the following dates: 25 and 26 August for the junior rugby union, and 22 and 23 September for junior rugby league. However, the number of games that will be played will be reduced. Rugby union will be restricted to between 15 and 17 games, and people in the junior rugby league will play a similar number of games. We have agreed to wet weather contingency needs, as there will be the potential for NRL and ARC matches to be played post these finals series.
Mrs Dunne: And can you tell the difference?
MR BARR: Indeed. Thank you, Mrs Dunne. There will be some costs involved in the use of Canberra Stadium. Territory Venues and Events has agreed to provide a level of support for the junior finals; we will not be underwriting the events, but we will be providing assistance with securing sponsorship for both finals series.
I advise the Assembly that the scheduling for the finals in 2008 and 2009 cannot be confirmed at this point, pending water restrictions and venue availability. But I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement with the junior rugby league and rugby union. I thank the Brumbies, the Raiders and everyone involved for their ability to compromise.
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