Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Federation Shards: Bracks' handling could make us a joke

News Release - 13 February 2000

The Bracks Government risks making Victoria an international laughing stock by its reported decision to scrap one or both of the shards at Federation Square.

"Just as Sydney was ridiculed for interfering in the design of the Sydney Opera House against the wishes of its highly regarded international architect, so we risk damage to Victoria's reputation around the world as a result of the way the Bracks Government has gone about conducting its review," the Shadow Minister for Planning and Major Projects, Robert Clark, said.

"More than 2 ½ years after the selection of the winning proposal, and more than 1 ½ years after the design was finalised, the Government is now fiddling with the project as it nears completion.

"The Federation Square design was chosen after an international competition, and decided by a panel of 7 distinguished judges.

"Despite Mr Walker's qualifications as an architect, he is only one person who has become involved late in the piece.

"Like Mr Pope in attempting to mediate the electricity dispute, his dual roles as a reviewer and as a former Labor Minister place him in a difficult position, especially because the Minister for Major Projects has already obtained a great deal of publicity by announcing the review and raising expectations of a change.

"The shards at Federation Square are not free standing items. Removing them will alter the entire balance of the square as envisaged by the architects. Furthermore, the shards are intended to house an extensive visitor information centre and a major exhibition on Federation.

"If the shards are scrapped, the Government needs to explain what will happen to these two features of the Square."

Mr Clark also rejected any suggestion that scrapping the shards was necessary due to cost blow-outs at the Square.

"Contrary to claims by the Minister for Major Projects, the unforeseen cost increase has been only $27.5 million on a total project cost of some $235 million - mainly due to union disruption of the project.

"If the Government really can't find the extra funds needed to complete the project in accordance with its original design, it should be asking the architects to select the areas of cost saving, rather than use cost as a convenient excuse to scrap the shards.

"Like them or not, any decision to change the shards should not be made lightly.

"The Government should draw a deep breath and consider the long term implications of its decision before making any announcement about the shards," Mr Clark said.

.