Thanks to you and all our other petitioners, we’ve clawed back some ground from the State Labor Government’s dreadful Grand Prix Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Upper House on Tuesday.

The Government and Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) watered down the proposed Grand Prix lockout extension in the face of fierce community opposition. Many of our 2,000 petitioners wrote letters to MPs, sending a clear message that the community is not pleased to be shoved out of OUR Park by the AGPC.

Aquatic sports clubs in particular have benefitted, with Albert Park sailors and rowers regaining some access to the Lake around the Grand Prix, along with the schools who use their facilities for both sports and educational programs.

But thousands of ordinary community members, including joggers and running clubs, walkers and dogs, and kids using the community playground will be fenced out for three weeks at Grand Prix time.

The Government made a series of late amendments to the Bill in the Upper House on Tuesday following pushback from the Liberals and the progressive independent parties, and secured its passage. We’re grateful to these parties – the Liberals, Greens, Animal Justice, and Legalise Cannabis – for listening to the community and taking up some or all of our concerns.

As well as trimming the extended lockout, the Government has introduced a new compensation scheme for Park tenants affected by the extension. And out of the blue, it also announced that a new Albert Park Advisory Committee will be established, although it was not able to provide any details.

This is a big win for the local sporting community. The Government has backed down on some of its poorly considered and unjustified plans to lock the community out. And we’re grateful it’s setting up a new compensation scheme, although the devil will be in the detail.

But it’s been policy on the run, and the Government still refuses to engage with the community, who actually understand the situation on the ground and who could constructively contribute to a more balanced solution. The Minister carrying the debate admitted to Parliament that they were still tweaking the arrangements.

One of the major outstanding concerns is the power the bill gives to the AGPC to take over sections of Albert Park at other times of the year to run concerts or events to increase its revenue.

The Park and its community already pay a heavy price at Grand Prix time. Now we face the prospect of disruptions at other times of the year as well.

Since they’re still tweaking, we urge you to write to key decision maker Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Sport, Major Events, and also the Environment (which includes Parks Victoria, the underfunded manager of Albert Park Reserve) at reception.dimopoulos@ecodev.vic.gov.au , demanding the community at least get better access to the Lake Path and to the community playground around GP time. And tell him to keep the AGPC’s fundraising events out of Albert Park - they already interfere with the Park and the community far too much each year at race time to be given a second bite.

Thanks for your support for our petition! We made them shift. And we’ll wind up this petition for now. 

But we’ll never assume the Labor Government will take the community’s interests seriously when it comes to petrol fumes and high rollers taking over Australia’s most famous park, Albert Park Reserve.