Vic: Government rules out name change for Federation Square

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2001
Vic: Government rules out name change for Federation Square

By Adam Cooper

MELBOURNE, Dec 9 AAP - The Victorian government today ruled out changing the name of
Melbourne's Federation Square development following opposition claims the government's
mismanagement had rendered the project's name irrelevant.

Amid accusations of mismanagement from both sides, the government said the name would
remain despite opposition calls for a new name given it would not be completed until next
year - after the centenary of Australian Federation.

"We have no plans to change the name and we think the public supports the name," a
government spokesman said.

Earlier, Deputy Opposition Leader Louise Asher suggested renaming the project Yarra
Square because the government had failed to complete the square by the end of 2001.

Ms Asher said the $210 million blow-out in the project's cost and the government's
scrapping of some of its original features - including a 22-metre shard (glass tower)
- meant the project's current name was no longer relevant.

"Regrettably, mismanagement by the Bracks government and unnecessary political interference
in controversies such as the removal of the shard resulted in sabotaging the project and
putting it way behind schedule," she said.

"The design was finalised after an international competition before Premier (Steve)
Bracks ordered a shard to be removed.

"As the project isn't going to be completed in the year of (the centenary of) federation,
the name Federation Square has lamentably lost its relevance."

Ms Asher said it was a "crying shame" the square would not be completed this year and
said a Liberal or coalition Victorian government would have completed the project this
year.

"It is an inherited major project," she said. "Every major project, we delivered on time."

The Federation Square project, which is likely to cost about $338 million after it
was originally expected to cost $128 million when announced in July 1997, is expected
to be completed in the first half of next year.

The government spokesman was adamant the name would not change and said Mr Asher's
comments were unfounded.

He said the former Liberal Kennett government had approved of the project without accurate
costings.

The former government had also approved the name, he said.

"We were surprised by her comments given the Federation Square name was adopted when
the project was announced," he said.

Ms Asher suggested Victorians write to her with suggestions for a new name.

AAP ac/gfr/cat/bwl

KEYWORD: SQUARE NIGHTLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.