COMMUNITY groups have urged
a parliamentary committee to ban the Melbourne International
Flower and Garden Show from the Carlton Gardens.
At a formal parliamentary inquiry last Thursday, four local
community groups claimed the "high-impact" garden
show was destroying the World Heritage-listed gardens.
Carlton Gardens Group convener Margaret O'Brien told the
committee the show "devalued" the World Heritage
gardens and the nearby Royal Exhibition Building.
"A private development isn't suitable for the exclusive
use of the gardens and to the benefit of the commercial
business enterprise," she said.
Carlton Residents Association spokeswoman Anne Ritter said
structures built for the show were "inappropriate"
in a World Heritage garden.
Resident 3000 president Peter Matthews agreed the event
should be held elsewhere.
Flower show director Greg Hooton last year told the Melbourne
Leader the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
made the show.
The parliamentary committee, which included parliamentary
Liberal Party leader David Davis, Southern Metropolitan
Greens MLC Sue Pennicuik and Eastern Metropolitan ALP MLC
Brian Tee, will table a report to the Legislative Council
by June 30.
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