Flower-show ban plea
Fiona Willan
09Apr08
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.
