Week ending 30th March 1997 - three weeks after the race

• Some perimeter fencing remained. Fences on the old Par 3 area were being removed. The fence remained around the Community Playground and along Queens Road and light rail boundaries.
• Crash barriers were mostly gone, but were still in place along Pit Straight and in front of Oval 20 (with Qantas signage) during this week. Replacement of post-and-chain fencing continued.
• Grandstand removal was incomplete; the Whiteford, Stewart, Brabham and Fangio stands (photo 17) were still being dismantled with stacks of structure on site awaiting removal. Only the Golf Course was free of infrastructure.
• Concrete stepped stands were gone.
• The Qantas overpass in Pit Straight had been removed.
• Oval 21 was at last cleared.
• Containers (14 in number) remained on the old Par 3 area, a few were left near the Golf Driving Range and there were others in various places on the west side of the park. The area around the Pit Garages was covered with rubbish.
• The speed humps removed from Aughtle Drive during the race set-up period had not been replaced, nor had the 40km/h signs.

Week ending 6th April 1997 - four weeks after the race

• The fence around the Community Playground was removed. Perimeter fencing along Queens Road and the light rail boundary remain as permanent fixtures.
• Crash barriers were gone except those in the area adjacent to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) which were not removed (photo 18).
• Work on grandstand dismantling and removal was finally completed (photo 20) with the removal of the last section of the Fangio stand, although this area had still not been fully cleaned up (photo 20).
• The carpark serving the Community Playground was cleared of Grand Prix-related equipment except for one electrical generator.
• Removal of the temporary works compound began. About half of the sheds, offices, etc. there were taken away during this week.
• In the Dogs-off-Lead area Kinhill site office buildings were partially removed, with two large offices, a toilet block, three shipping containers and green and yellow bunting remaining; Chubb Security was still in the Middle Park RSL building. These were gone by the end of the next week.

More than one month after the race

• During the next week or two, the clean-up of the Fangio stand area was completed, the post-and-chain fences were replaced, the "chain doctor" unsuccessfully attended to the uneven length chains, the skate ramp near Pit Lane was re-installed (beginning on 24/4/97) and road signage was painted on Pit Lane. It was not until late May 1997 that Aughtie Drive traffic signs were reinstated. The removable trees in front of the Pit Garages were not reinstated until the week ending 27/7/97. The Aughtie Drive speed humps were removed permanently prior to the race, reportedly because of damage caused to the track surface.

In summary it can be seen that the dismantling of the 1997 Grand Prix infrastructure was, as in 1996, a lengthy process. Two weeks after the race the Golf Course was almost completely cleared, but in the rest of the park most grandstands and some corporate structures remained. Their presence and that of works equipment, vehicles and building rubbish made large sections of the park unavailable or uninviting for public use. It was not until four weeks after the race that the majority of Grand Prix related structures was gone; clean up of sites and removal of the temporary works compound and Kinhill site office extended beyond this period. It is difficult to understand Jennifer Lilburn's claim that it looked like a park the day after the race.

Restoration of the Park
Restoration of damaged fields and ovals was begun earlier than the previous year although there was still a two week delay after the race before work commenced. Repairs took place in more favourable weather conditions this year than in 1996, finishing around the end of the growing season which meant grass reseeding was unlikely to succeed. However the ovals that were under infrastructure wore still not available for use by 18th May, that is, they were unusable for three and a half months of the summer and autumn (photo 19). In an article in the Emerald Hill Times, 23/4/97, the chairman of the Albert Park User' Group, Mr Peter Dakin, said that "16 of the park's 21 ovals were not ready by their scheduled dates this month." In the same article it was pointed out that the Southbank Football Club had not returned to its base at Oval 21 since before the first Grand Prix. In addition, during restoration works, almost all of the west side of the park had "Keep Off The Grass" notices on it and was therefore unavailable for passive use and dog-walking until early May (photo 21). (Refer to Appendix 1 for a table of repair work to sports fields.)

There appears to be a problem with the contract for restoration works. During this period, the Albert Park Supervisor was seen on a number of occasions personally shifting watering hoses on sporting fields - not a task which might be expected for that position.

As was the case last year, the chains of the post-and-chain fences wore replaced randomly and required individual attention to alter the length of each one to reduce their uneven appearance. Given the considerable length of these fences in the park this is quite an undertaking.

Some areas of the park used by AGPC and its contractors are never restored. This is most noticeable in passive recreation areas where grass regrowth is poor (photos 2 & 18). Full recovery does not occur before the infrastructure returns for the next race. One of the worst affected areas is the large workers compound site which has not been attended to, especially adjacent to the light rail.

Impact on Sporting Clubs & Sporting Activities
Impact on Amateur Sport
"Albert Park is the most significant amateur sport venue in Victoria and it's our job to maintain that."
Jeff Floyd
Emerald Hill Times, 9/11/94

Parks Victoria has failed to maintain Albert Park as the most significant amateur sport venue. The impact of the Grand Prix on amateur sporting clubs has been and continues to be severe. Since the reconstruction of the playing fields on the west side of the park, to cater for the design of the Grand Prix circuit under the Albert Park November 1994 Master Plan, there have been ongoing problems with the playing surface on some fields. There has been a reduction in the number of amateur sporting matches played in the park, some teams have been disbanded, some clubs are forced to undertake their training at venues outside the park as far away as Caulfield and, in at least some cases, clubs have not returned to the park at all. Chairman of Albert Park Users' Group, Peter Dakin, told the media that three clubs and ten sporting teams had left the park in the last year (Emerald Hill Times, 12/2/97). Peter Dakin had previously been quoted as stating "We expect if the Grand Prix is run in March, between sporting seasons, the level of disruption will be kept to a minimum." (GP News Issue 2, Nov. 1994)

Sport clubs complain that there is a failure to return ovals to useable condition by scheduled dates and some clubs are still concerned that there are major problems with playing surfaces (Emerald Hill Times, 23/4/97, pl7), (photos 4 & 6). The loss of home grounds for training and home matches has a marked impact on the ability of clubs to maintain their players, attract new members, raise finances to ensure their clubs remain viable, leaves them at higher risk of being relegated to lower divisions in their competitions and threatens their survival. The damage to so many ovals results in heavy congestion on the few sporting fields that are not badly damaged as a result of the Grand Prix and an inability to cater for all club activities within Albert Park.

Damage from Reconstruction of the Park Under the Master Plan
Although it has been a dry year, drainage problems are evident on some sporting fields. Repair works have contributed to the time that fields are unsuitable for play (refer Appendix 1 for extent of work). The problems do not appear to have been completely solved, despite repeated attempts at some sites (photos 19 & 22). South Melbourne Cricket Club is a case in point. Under the Master Plan this club was forced to vacate its ground in favour of Hellas Soccer Club, (the original location of which was in the path of the proposed Grand Prix track), and now uses Ovals 1 and 2. On 22 April 1996 the club formally notified MP&W (now Parks Victoria) of major drainage problems. "The centre wicket area of the Main Oval (Oval No.2) is not level and is lower (probably due to compaction) than the remaining playing area. This was clearly visible during wet weather over the summer when the area became a 'water catchment' making effective curation very difficult." (Extract of letter to Jennifer Lilburn, Manager Albert Park MP&W, from Joan Holdsworth, President of South Melbourne Cricket Club Inc., dated 22 April 1996. obtained under FOI). Save Albert Park's observation is that drainage problems have remained on Oval 2 throughout 1997 despite some restoration being attempted. It is of concern that such extensive rectification work needs to be done on ovals which were constructed so recently.

Damage to Sports Fields
Sports fields were damaged by grandstands, concrete barriers and numerous other items of Grand Prix infrastructure such as large industrial waste bins, shipping containers, concrete slabs, marquees, contractors' vehicles, media communication equipment, toilets, food facilities, food waste, corporate facilities and fence posts (photos 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 & 21). The majority of ovals and fields were not observed to be back in use until mid to late May and play was not observed on some others until June or later. With ovals being handed over for the Grand Prix set-up from 1 February 1997, it is quite clear that the impact on amateur sport lasts for months.

Oval 21 was once again the most severely damaged due to the Grand Prix (photo 15). Southbank Football Club, which used to play on this oval, has not been able to play there since before the first Grand Prix. (Emerald Hill Times, 23/4/97, pl7) It is the run-off for pit straight and a site for a massive Grand Prix stand, consequently Oval 21 is out of action for most of the year, with some cricket played for only a few months. Goal posts were installed on the oval in June but no football matches have been observed on this ground again this year.

Oval 20 (ANZ Football Club and Middle Park Cricket Club) was badly damaged, for the second year, especially at the north end of the oval, by grandstand structures, concrete barriers, contractors' vehicles, marquees and a large container. Not only was the dismantling of the Grand Prix infrastructure slow, but material then left lying on the oval contributed to the damage. (Photo 19 shows April restoration attempt). There has also been overwatering in the area adjacent to the oval, affecting the cricket practice wickets area.

Oval 11 (South Melbourne Districts Sports Club) was unavailable for scheduled football matches. Damage to the oval was significant. It was occupied by tents and other Grand Prix Infrastructure from the week ending 16th February 1997 and was not free of it until the week ending 23 March 1997.

Field 19 (South Melbourne Soccer and ASA Touch Football) was severely impacted upon again this year. Training was not observed to recommence on this field until the week ending 1 June 1997. Field 16A & B (Middle Park and ANZ Soccer Clubs) sustained severe damage when large concrete slabs were laid in one part of the field (photo l0 & 16). Fields 14 & 15 (Powerhouse Rugby and multi-use) were damaged by contractors' vehicles, marquee flooring, toilets, industrial bins, containers and food facilities. Ross Gregory Oval (Powerhouse Football Club, St Kilda Cricket Club and St Michael's Grammar School) was damaged by corporate facilities, industrial bins and containers to such an extent that no training was able to take place there and there was a significant delay in starting match play for football (photos 12 & 22).

By the beginning of June 1997 no play had been observed on Oval 12 (Ajax), Oval 21 (previously Southbank Football Club), or on Fields 8 and 10 (Victorian Soccer Federation).

The damage to ovals and fields is impacting badly on pro-season training and results in many clubs being forced to use limited training facilities in Albert Park (particularly fields near the Mary Street entry), whilst others are forced to go outside the park.

Slow Restoration Programme
The restoration programme for the sports grounds was not met. "The chairman of the Albert Park User's Group, Peter Dakin, said 16 of the parks 21 ovals were not ready by their scheduled dates this year." (Emerald Hill Times, 23/4/97, p17).

Damage and lack of appropriate restoration, despite favourable weather conditions, meant a number of clubs could not play some of their scheduled matches in the park. "President of Powerhouse Football Club, Craig Henderson, said his club had delayed by a month its return to the Ross Gregory Oval as the surface was an 'absolute disgrace'... Mr McFariane said the club had to find temporary training and match grounds" (Emerald Hill Times, 23/4/97, pl7), (photos 4 & 22).

There was a long delay between infrastructure being removed and restoration works commencing. Some of the Terraplas used to protect ovals proved effective but since work to ready these (ovals 13 &17) was not undertaken promptly, the use of Terraplas to enable a faster return to sporting use was therefore a failure (photo 7). Clubs faced the problem of finding temporary alternative venues outside the park and wore left vulnerable to potential penalties from their associations for failing to provide grounds as scheduled.

Sport was not observed to commence in the park on ovals which had been damaged until the week ending 4th May 1997 for after-school sport (Field 18) and the week ending 18th May 1997 for amateur sport (touch football on fields 14, 15 & 16 and Australian Rules football at Ross Gregory oval). This was well after the start of the football season. Some goal posts were not erected until the week ending 6th July (Field 10), six months after some sporting fields were handed over for the Grand Prix set-up.

South Melbourne Districts Football Club were observed to recommence play on the neighbouring ground (Oval 9 - Ajax) rather than their own (Oval 11) because the restoration of theirs was not ready in time for scheduled matches.

Middle Park Soccer Club, who were unable to play on their field at all fast year (multi-use Field 19) following running of the 1996 Grand Prix, were once again significantly affected by delays. Their location this year (Field 16A) had large concrete slabs laid on part of it (photo 10) which were not removed until the week ending 23 March 1997 (photo 16) and then the main restoration work did not commence until mid-April, over one month after the race. ANZ Soccer Club (Field 16B) was similarly affected. If the concrete stab is to be installed on Fields 16 A & B each year, the impact for these clubs will be severe. Both clubs had to train on fields in heavy use, at the Mary Street end of the park, along with football and rugby clubs, and matches were not observed on Field 16 until the week ending 25 May 1997.

There have been major problems with turf; restoration was late and not ideal for grass seed to grow vigorously (photos 19). There are now large areas of brown grass in the reseeded areas of the park. An attempt was made to improve the turf by planting couch grass but due to the delay in restoration beyond the best period for undertaking this activity, a large amount has not taken (photo 21).

This snapshot of some of the delays and problems experienced by sporting clubs in Albert Park indicates that the running of the Grand Prix in Albert Park continues to have a disastrous effect on amateur sport. It makes it difficult for clubs to maintain and attract new members and would impact on the clubs' fundraising from social activities associated with a full season of training and match play near their club rooms - something which a number of clubs are no longer able to do. Quite clearly Jeff Floyd (CEO, Parks Victoria) could not claim that Parks Victoria was maintaining Albert Park as the most significant sport venue in Victoria.

Permanent Loss of Fields
Under the Albert Park Master Plan of November 1994, a multi-purpose sports field (Field 7) was to have been located near bend 14 of the race track. At this bend is a large run-off area for the race; the gravel, barriers and activity from the run-off ruin the ground surface (photo 23). There is now no sports field in this location. Although Parks Victoria staff indicate a field is to be created in a nearby area no replacement field has eventuated.

Despite the awareness of the need for sporting grounds, especially during the overlap between the cricket and football seasons, one of the best ovals in the park, the Harry Trott Oval has been taken over by the privately managed golf course. The original golf course area was eroded by two Grand Prix track chicanes and permanent spectator mounds.

Freedom of Information
Save Albert Park has now obtained, through FOI, correspondence from some sporting clubs to Melbourne Parks and Waterways (now Parks Victoria), which clearly states that there have been numerous problems associated with both poor construction of sporting fields and ongoing problems caused by the holding of the Grand Prix in Albert Park. (Refer Appendix 2).

Middle Park Soccer Club who were supposed to use Field 19 (also known as Oval 19) stated, "if 'Oval 19' will be used each year by Channel 9 as it's communication centre, it will always be one of the last ovals to be handed back to the club because of the volume of equipment and personnel, and the type of usage." (Letter from Simon Wood, Secretary - Middle Park Soccer Club to Matthew Paravagna, Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 12/8/96, obtained under FOI). In a letter of reply dated 26/8/96, obtained under FOI, Matthew Paravagna stated that "The possibility of moving the club permanently to another ground at Albert Park is being investigated. The Middle Park Soccer Club will not be invoiced for payment of licence fees for the entirety of this season through to 31 October 1996. Middle Park Soccer Club has continued to be severely affected in 1997 despite ground changes (refer Damage to Sports Fields and Slow Restoration sections above).

Impact On Other Sporting Activities
Other sporting activities in the park Include outdoor water sports, lawn bowls and indoor sports such as basketball, table tennis and cricket. These sports are affected for at least one week of the year as the park is closed to the public and club members. The impact is heaviest on the indoor sports in the pit building, which is closed to sport for about two months, and golfers. The Albert Park golf course had only 9 of its 18 fairways playable in the week beginning 9th February 1997 and was totally closed from the week beginning 16th February for a period of five weeks. The Golf Driving Range was closed for race week.

Impact on Recreational Users
Replacement of the skate board ramp, a facility mainly used by teenagers, received a low priority. Access to the ramp had ceased from the week ending 16 February 1997 and the ramp was not reinstated until the week ending 27 April 1997. From 18 December 1998, cyclists had to compete with trucks using the "bike paths" which in reality are service roads for the Grand Prix (photo 13 & 24). Cyclists were not safe from contractors' vehicles until all infrastructure was removed from the park and materials required for restoration work were delivered. This did not occur until after Easter. Passive recreational users are the worst affected as areas designated for passive use are amongst the last to be restored and some were never properly repaired before Infrastructure started to return to the park on 13 December 1997 for the 1998 Grand Prix (photos 18 & 23).

Trees
There has been a failure to protect mature trees in Albert Park. During the construction of the Grand Prix track and during the set-up and dismantling periods for the race damage has occurred. We have been informed by a consultant arborist that the full impact of damage to trees could take up to five years to show. During construction of the track, root systems were damaged and soil was allowed to build up around the base of trees. The impact of this is now starting to show, especially on the mature elms in the park.

Parks Victoria failed to act promptly to try to save mature trees. In an arboricultural report which was supplied to a Save Albert Park member by Mr Jeff Floyd, CEO Parks Victoria, there is clear evidence that Parks Victoria was aware of the damage occurring. "Many lower branches have either been broken or snapped off or exhibit wounds due to trucks and machinery. Mechanical damage also occurs to the trees bole and surface roots.... The road between the two rows of trees containing these Elms, has been dug up and re-filled with clay. Severe soil compaction of this clay is evident, as is root loss due to severance." (Albert Park arboricultural reports, April 1995, p3). The report recommended removal of the clay fill and remedial works to be undertaken on the elms. Remedial work was not undertaken until mid-January 1997 and clay fill has not been removed. Over one quarter of the elms in the Ross Gregory Drive avenue are now dead and further trees In the avenue show signs of severe stress.

From these reports, and from discussions with Parks Victoria, It appears that AGPC is not being made fully responsible for the losses, or for remedial work.

Damage to trees throughout the park occurred once again during this year's race set-up and dismantling (photo 13). This suggests that management of the contractors to prevent such damage and penalties for breaches of the Code of Conduct for tree protection are insufficient, since current penalties do not act as sufficient deterrent to ensure a high standard of protection. To prevent future additional losses, Parks Victoria could implement a system of significant cash bonds paid prior to any work being commenced and for substantial fines to be imposed on any failure to comply with the Code of Conduct.

Over 1000 trees have been removed from the park since the implementation of the Master Plan. Since the last ParkWatch report more healthy, mature trees have been felled. Many were on the east side of the park in the area of the golf course and its extensions. As parts of the golf course were taken for the building of the Grand Prix track and spectator viewing mounds, the golf course was redesigned and now encroaches significantly into an area designated under the Master Plan to be returned to parkland (Albert Park Master Plan, November 1994, Figs. 26 & 51). This area, the site of the old sports halls, was to compensate for the parkland lost to the MSAC. More than twenty trees have been lost in this north-east corner of the park, in addition to those on the golf course.

The Master Plan for Albert Park stated that the long-term goal with regard to vegetation is to achieve a substantial cover of mature trees estimated to total 5,000 when the Master Plan is fully implemented (p56). Five thousand trees have not been planted and Parks Victoria now refer to this figure as being trees and grasses (Port Phillip Leader, 13/5/96, p8). Many of the new plantings fail to survive but they are not all being replaced, for example the avenue of trees bordering the large carpark in the City Edge precinct. In some areas where there are replacements they are smaller. A number of the plantings, particularly on the west side of the park, are struggling to survive. The difficulty of growing new plants to maturity in Albert Park was well known to previous park management and gives some explanation of the distress provoked by the felling of any mature tree in the park.

Areas of the park denoted as picnic grounds, such as Pelican Picnic area, are rarely used by the public. They are vehicle run-off and corporate box sites for the Grand Prix and, as such, must remain treeless; they are severely damaged by the race each year (photo 18). Parks Victoria's plan to plant temporary trees where permanent trees cannot be planted due to Grand Prix requirements, is failing. The temporary trees placed in front of the pit garages for part of the year failed to thrive; this year they were removed in January and not reinstated until July, some six months later.

Access, Disruption & Safety
Passive park users are the first to be affected each year by the setting up of the Grand Prix. The first work to be carried out during the 17 week period is the installation of Kinhill's site office in a passive recreation and dogs-off-lead area (photo 14). The installation of sheds in the workers compound follows soon after. Trucks continually use the roads next to the Children's Community Playground and light rail which are designated as bicycle and walking paths.

Thousands of contractor vehicle movements occur during the 17 week period and some of these break the speed limit imposed on these roads. Some time into the set-up period, the road outside the RSL club rooms, which are used by the security guards, had speed humps installed outside doorways (photo 24). The speed humps were not lit and created a hazard for cyclists outside daylight hours. Despite complaints to Parks Victoria about speeding vehicles on bike paths, no effective action was taken elsewhere (photo 13).

One of the access roads lies adjacent to the Children's Community Playground with a temporary fence separating them during construction time. Requests to both Judith Griggs, CEO Australian Grand Prix Corporation, and to the site safety officer to install a child-proof safety latch on the gate in this fence met with inaction.

A large corporate stand on the south side of the Children's Community Playground is one of the first to be erected each year (photo 9) even though it was requested that the construction of this stand be delayed to late in the erection programme in the interests of child safety. The fence around the stand is not adequate to prevent adventurous children trying the alternative climbing structure.

Park users, particularly those less agile, have difficulty moving around the park for several months because of concrete barriers, fences and infrastructure all blocking normal access (photos 8 & 9). This year, fewer gaps were left between barriers than the previous year and park users either had to climb over the barriers or walk long distances around them to gain access to remaining open space.

Joggers and people walking around the lake are placed in danger when using the path along the east side of the lake. Corporate boxes are erected over the path (photo 11) and there were instances of material dropping onto the path from construction work overhead. The stands erected over paths restrict the path width and access, create shadows and block views such that they have become a security concern for users, particularly women. Many have expressed a reluctance to use the park in the months of construction activity, especially at dawn and dusk. In the Master Plan the reason given for the massive removal of understorey vegetation was that "it creates safety concerns amongst park users" (p53).

The Grands Prix Act allows the AGPC to close the park to the public for the race week. However security guards have tried to prevent access outside this time. In the week before the 1997 race-week period, security guards demanded to know the purpose of visits to the park before allowing visitors entry.

Even outside the construction period, vehicles use the park's "bike paths", including the one adjacent to the Children's Playground. Bollards which are meant to be replaced and locked immediately after access by "authorised" vehicles are frequently left out of the ground.

Road Dangers & Traffic Accidents
The rate of traffic accidents on the racing track appears to be increasing. Most of these are concentrated on bend 3 (near MSAC), bend 15 (south of pit straight) and at the chicanes on Lakeside Drive. Save Albert Park has recorded eighty nine accidents to date.

Many of the accidents have happened late at night or at weekends. For an extensive period between the 1996 and 1997 Grands Prix, Lakeside Drive was closed at weekends to reduce accidents but this has not happened since the 1997 event. Speed humps on Aughtie Drive have not been returned since the 1997 race; it is understood that this is because vehicles traversing the humps caused damage to the track surface. The majority of accidents appear to involve single vehicles out of control on sharp bends designed for car racing purposes.

There was a delay in returning the 40km/h speed limit signs in Aughtie Drive. They did not reappear until late May 1997, over 2 months after the Grand Prix. Material obtained by Save Albert Park under FOI relating to repairs of post-and chain fences undertaken by Parks Victoria around park roads from 24/12/96 until 27/5/97, indicates that there have been 43 dates on which fences have been repaired. The greatest number (11 repairs) occurred on bend 15, in Aughtie Drive. This is consistent with Save Albert Parks traffic accident statistics and shows the inappropriateness of designing park roads for use as a car race track.

The frequency of posts in the post-and-chain fencing and their close proximity to the road edge, which has no kerb or channel, is a hazard for vehicles veering off the road.

On Lakeside Drive there are no pedestrian crossings, making it hazardous, especially for young children and the elderly to cross from parking lanes to picnic areas near the lake. Under the November 1994 Master Plan pedestrian crossings were to be provided on Lakeside Drive and Albert Road Drive (p63), but have not eventuated.

It appears that Parks Victoria has had to accept park roads designed to meet the requirements of a Formula 1 race-track rather than those of Vic Roads Road Design Guidelines and Road Design Manual for roads for normal traffic use.

Effect on Spotswood Residents
Between race periods, Grand Prix infrastructure is stored in a yard at Spotswood. The main concern of the residents in the area was excessive movement of heavy trucks transporting the infrastructure through residential streets from the depot in New Street to Albert Park, and returning.

It is estimated that there were approximately 2,000 truck trips during the combined set-up and dismantling periods to transport the equipment which included concrete crash barriers and concrete spectator stands for general admission areas.

In addition to general noise and vibration nuisance, the trucks created dangerous situations at one intersection by taking up the entire road width when completing a turn, until the local council introduced some restrictions after resident lobbying.

Residents living close to the depot were also reported being badly affected by noise and dust created by trucks leaving the Grand Prix depot onto an unseated stretch of road. Residents joined a Save Albert Park protest held at the depot on 29th January 1997 and aired their complaints to media representatives.

Commercial Advertising
The most obtrusive forms of advertising which appeared in the park were on overpasses and crash barriers. By mid-January, overpasses with large advertisements (photos 8 & 9) had been erected at many locations around the track, (refer map).

Qantas, Foster's, Coca-Cola and TAC signs initially appeared, then some changes occurred. It seems that the overpasses were erected with 1996 signage unaltered, thus giving free exposure. Bridgestone Tyres replaced Fosters in Albert Road Drive in mid-February. At the overpass near Powerhouse, a 1996 Foster's sign was replaced by a Melbourne Grand Prix event sign after a few weeks. Signs remained on display for some weeks after the Grand Prix event, so some companies received about three months of advertising exposure in the park.

The content of the TAC sign, "if you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot", seems incongruous at a motor racing event that has a beer company as one of its major sponsors. No "Speed kills" signs were in the park. One was removed from the corner of Canterbury Road and Kerferd Road just prior to the race.

Marlboro signs appeared on the Lakeside Drive twin overpasses, but only for the race week. The signs were removed the day after the race.

Crash barriers were erected from the end of January, some bearing 1996 Transurban signage even though it was no longer a sponsor. AMP signage replaced old Coca-Cola ones at the Lakeside Drive/Albert Road Drive intersection. Crash barrier signage remained in the park for about two months, except for the tobacco advertisements which were painted out after the race day.

A Carlton & United sign was left in the Children's Playground until April.

Tobacco Advertising
As permitted under the Howard Government's exemption to S.18 of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act there were 27 tobacco advertising signs - including one double-sided overpass sign - in the park from a few days before the race until about a week afterwards. Additionally there was tobacco advertising on uniforms, cars and promotional merchandise. Given the proven adverse health effects of smoking and the link between tobacco advertising, motor racing and smoking by young fans (The Lancet, reported in The Age, 22/11/97), tobacco advertising anywhere is abhorrent. It is even more abhorrent in a public park which is intended for healthy recreational pursuits including amateur sports. In 1996, advertisements left visible well after the exemption period provoked complaints to the Federal Minister for Health. In 1997, unlike 1996, all tobacco advertising signs were removed from the park before the gazetted deadline and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation was required to report back to the Minister to confirm compliance with the exemption.

Although health warning signs appeared on the barrier and overpass signs, there were large Marlboro signs on merchandising stalls without any warnings.

In addition, health warning signs on concrete track barriers, although complying with the exemption requirements of 25% of the sign's area, were in much smaller print than last year and were placed along the very bottom of the sign. This had the effect of making them more difficult to read as they had previously been in larger print at one end.

Conclusion
This report documents the effects of the 1997 Formula 1 Grand Prix on Albert Park. Even before the park had fully recovered from the first Grand Prix, setting up for the second event commenced in December 1996, initiating a four-and-a half month period of disruption with some reinstatement work continuing even longer.

In some cases there was an unexplained two week delay between the final dismantling of infrastructure and commencement of the restoration work, further adding to the inconvenience and frustration being experienced by sports clubs. Some had had to vacate their grounds from as early as 1 February 1997, then it took until the end of April for the first of the damaged grounds to return to use. It was six months from when the first grounds wore handed over to the AGPC to when the last of the football grounds was available for play.

It can be seen from Save Albert Park observations, supported by Freedom of Information evidence, that Parks Victoria has failed Mr Floyd's own requirement to maintain Albert Park as a significant amateur sport venue. Despite favourable weather they have not met their restoration programme for the sports grounds. There are ongoing problems with playing surfaces and fewer teams playing fewer amateur sporting matches in the park. Despite the pressure to supply fields in playable condition there is a permanent loss of fields in the park. The running of the Grand Prix in Albert Park is having a disastrous effect on amateur sport, the future of some clubs being in jeopardy.

The report shows clearly that the consequences of staging the Formula 1 motor race in Albert Park disadvantage a broad range of people, including children, and activities.

There is a long period of disruption for all park users at seasonally the best time to be there. There is a deterioration in the quality of the park as areas are excised from public use, trees die, vehicles speed along bicycle paths and sports ovals are regularly redressed. Visual amenity is spoiled by advertisements throughout the park during the race period. As it is a temporary venue, all the paraphernalia must be transported in and out each year with disturbance to park users and to residents along the transport route and near the storage depot.

The Federal governments exemption which allows tobacco advertising for the event presents a rare opportunity for the tobacco industry to gain extensive media promotion normally denied to them.

The reconstruction of the park roads as a race-track has created potentially dangerous situations for normal road use. The accident rate has increased and serious injury has occurred. Normal road design and safety measures have apparently been compromised in order to meet the requirements of a Formula 1 race-track.

When all the effects are known, it becomes difficult to understand why such widespread disturbance and damage to a public park is caused for a four day event centred around a two-hour race. If the Formula 1 Grand Prix were relocated to a permanent venue it would be advantageous not only for all those who use the park but also for the event and the motor racing industry. Instead, at a temporary venue in a park, the disadvantages are significant.

Photographs
The pictures presented below are thumbnails of the actual pictures stored. Click the thumbnail to view the larger version of the picture (approx. 23-50k).

Photo 1 30/10/96 Black Duck Picnic Area
Photo 2 8/12/96 Pelican picnic area
Photo 3 8/12/96 Works compound Repair work 2 weeks prior to 1997 set-up commencing
Photo 4 21/7/97 Restored Ross Gregory Oval
Photo 5 9/10/96 Fields behind pit garages
Photo 6 11/8/96 Oval 21
Photo 7 12/3/97 Oval 13 "Terraplas" grass protection
Photo 8 30/1/97 Aughtie Drive
Photo 9 8/2/97 Main overpass Pit Straight
Photo 10 17/2/97 Temporary concrete slab on Fields 16A & B
Photo 11 2/3/97 Lakeside Drive walking & jogging path
Photo 12 16/3/97 Run-off near Ross Gregory Oval Gravel being scraped off grass
Photo 13 13/3/97 Tree damage at bicycle path between Golf Driving Range & MSAC
Photo 14 22/3/97 Soccer Fields Kinhill's site office
Photo 15 23/3/97 Oval 21
Photo 16 23/3/97 Fields 16A & B after removal of concrete slab
Photo 17 29/3/97 Fangio Stand
Photo 18 1/4/97 Pelican Picnic Area
Photo 19 11/4/97 Oval 20 after restoration work
Photo 20 5/4/97 Passive recreation & dogs-off-lead area Damage from Fangio stand
Photo 21 18/4/97 Soccer Field 18 with couch grass sown
Photo 22 27/3/97 Top dressing of Ross Gregory Oval
Photo 23 11/4/97 Run-off at Bend 14 (Location of missing field 7)
Photo 24 10/4/97 Speed humps on bicycle path near RSL Hall

Reference Map

Appendices
Appendix 1 - Table of Repairs to Sports Fields
Table of Repairs to Sports Fields
This table indicates the extent and frequency of repair work to each of the sports fields in Albert Park Reserve during the last year. Refer to the map above for locations of ovals

Oval No.	Sept-Nov '96 Work Undertaken	Mar-May '97 Work Undertaken	Aug-Sept '97 Work Undertaken
Oval 1	drainage & top dressing
Oval 2	drainage & top dressing
Oval 3
Oval 4
Oval 5
Oval 6		large areas top dressed & resown
Oval 7 & 8		large areas top dressed & resown
Oval 9	drainage & top dressing		drainage works
Oval 10		large areas top dressed & resown
Oval 11	surface repairs drainage & top dressing	extensive top dressing & reseeding	major drainage works
Oval 12		large areas top dressed & resown	top dressing
Oval 13	reconstructed, rubble removed reseeded & instant turf	had "Terraplas" protection	top dressing
Oval 14	drainage & top dressing	extensive top dressing & reseeding
Oval 15		extensive top dressing & reseeding
Oval 16	ploughed & surface debris removed reseeded & instant turf	had "Terraplas" protection	top dressing
Oval 17	ploughed & surface debris removed reseeded & instant turf	had "Terraplas" protection	drainage works & extensive top dressing
Oval 18	drainage & top dressing	extensive top dressing & reseeding
Oval 19		extensive top dressing & reseeding
Oval 20	ploughed & surface debris removed reseeded & instant turf	large areas top dressed & resown	top dressing
Oval 21	resurfaced in June replanted	total reseeding
Ross Gregory	drainage & top dressing replanted	extensive top dressing & reseeding	extensive top dressing
Generally	"Keep off grass" signs in all areas

Appendix 2 - Supporting Documents
The letters in this Appendix relate to the difficulties being experienced by amateur sporting clubs in Albert Park.

The pictures presented below are thumbnails of the actual pages stored. Click the thumbnail to view the larger version of the page (approx. 23-50k/page).

Letter
Letter from Peter Dakin, Chairman of Albert Park Users' Group, to Hon. Louise Asher MP, Member for Monash Province, dated 16 April 1997.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information
Letter from Joan Holdsworth, President of South Melbourne Cricket Club Inc., to Jennifer Lilburn, Manager Albert Park for Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 22 April 1996.

Letter from Joan Holdsworth, President of South Melbourne Cricket Club Inc., to Jennifer Lilburn, Manager Albert Park for Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 11 August 1996.

Facsimile from Wayne Phillips, Committee Member of South Melbourne Cricket Club Inc., to Allan Aitken, of Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 6 December 1996.

Letter from Len Bulpit, General Manager of South Melbourne Districts Sports Club, Inc. to Jennifer Lilburn, Manager Albert Park for Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 21 July 1996.

Facsimile from Simon Wood, Secretary of Middle Park Soccer Club, Inc. to Matthew Paravagna, Albert Park office of Melbourne Parks and Waterways, dated 12 August 1996.

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