Yarra (car) Park deal sparks anger

It is part of a deal struck between the State Government, the MCG Trust, the AFL and the club. It will also lock in the grand final at the MCG until 2037, refurbish the Great Southern Stand and give AFL clubs playing home games at the MCG an extra $100,000 a game for the next decade.

Premier John Brumby has hailed the deal as a "huge step forward for sport in the state".

But the decision to hand the 22 hectares of parkland to the MCG Trust which will delegate control to the club has infuriated community groups and councillors. They say the park should be controlled by a public body for public use.

Up to 5000 cars park there on match days, and the council had hoped to phase that out.

The Melbourne Cricket Club says on-site parking is essential to the MCG's operation. It has already prepared a master plan for the land, which includes a new gravel car park for 150 cars.

The trust will spend $16 million, with an extra $6 million from the State Government, adding new trees, upgrading lawns and installing an underground water recycling plant.

Yarra Park Association member Steven Vaughan said the decision was a disaster.

"There are masses of areas that are just dirt, the trees are under threat and we know . . . recreation areas in the inner-city are very limited," he said.

His group would campaign to make the park an election issue in the marginal state seats of Melbourne and Richmond.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the decision was a matter for the Government. He denied he was giving up the park. "It's never been ours," he said.

Cr Doyle said he would be happy to work with the Government on providing underground parking. But MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said that was too expensive.

A Government spokesman said legislation would be introduced by the end of the year to seal the deal.