Telstra Dome cages examined

WORKCOVER inspectors yesterday examined the controversial smoking enclosures outside Telstra Dome.

The inspection was called because it was feared the fences that caged smoking football fans might restrict access to the ground's emergency exits. A preliminary report late yesterday cleared the site but ordered that exit signs be placed on the fences in case of a ground evacuation. A Melbourne councillor also weighed into the passouts ban row, saying the ground needed a permit to erect temporary fences, a claim denied by Docklands authority VicUrban.

And Upper House Labor MP Martin Pakula raised the matter in State Parliament, saying fans were being given a raw deal.

"You don't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut," he said. The Geelong Football Club confirmed it had written to the AFL, voicing its concern about the passout restrictions. The letter cited a parent banned from leaving Telstra Dome to collect a blanket from the family car to comfort a cold child.

Stadium boss Ian Collins enforced a no-passouts rule amid security concerns and claims that patrons were rorting the passes. Consequently, smokers who leave the ground are kept behind high temporary fencing.

Mr Collins was also worried about people kicking footballs on the concourse and injuring elderly patrons. But fans claimed the passouts ban aimed to protect food vendors inside the ground by preventing people from buying food at outlets on the concourse.

Cr Peter Clarke, Melbourne City Council's Docklands and major projects committee chairman, said the fences were erected without permits.

But VicUrban, which is the statutory authority overseeing the area, said permits were not needed. A VicUrban agreement with Melbourne Stadiums Limited, Telstra Dome's operator, has allowed fences to be erected on the concourse.

Most of the Docklands will move to Melbourne City Council control on July 1, but the stadium land will not. Cr Clarke has no power over the area, but he plans to raise the fences issue, which he said were undemocratic and potentially unsafe, with VicUrban.

Mr Collins' spokesman said a risk assessment of the smoking areas had been conducted before implementing the ban.. Mr Pakula, the member for Western Metropolitan, said he recently met Telstra Dome operations manager Nick Sautner to discuss the issues. Mr Pakula acknowledged management concerns but said the action was not the right solution.

"None of the reasons given were compelling enough to justify the decision they have taken," he said.

Source: Herald Sun

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