Perth, Western Australia February 10, 2007 Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	Row over night games A row has broken out over the number of night games at Subiaco Oval this year. Subiaco council has approved 18 night games - enough to cover this year's fixtures and up to three finals - but the WA Football Commission wants 32. The argument is heading for the desk of Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan. The total of 18 night games includes all the AFL and international rugby fixtures that have been announced. An extra three-game "buffer" was included by Subiaco council for possible finals games. The approval was given on condition that all tickets included public transport and that parking would cease on Mueller Park. Last year when the commission asked the council to approve 32 games, the commission said it would agree to include public transport in the ticket price. That decision delighted Subiaco which had argued for years that it would help to solve traffic problems and help the environment. The commission had steadily resisted, but late last year, after the government had set up a taskforce to consider a new stadium, it offered to change the ticket system to include public transport. Commission CEO Wayne Bradhaw said: "The whole purpose of negotiating a new position was to reduce the need for applications for events. The 18 events are less than what we have used in the past. "Eighteen is well short of what may be required. "We do not anticipate much of a change in the number of events at Subiaco Oval, compared with previous years. What we are asking for is the ability to play some more of these at night." Subiaco CEO Chester Burton said: "It does seem a little bit bizarre. "The commission has lodged a formal dispute against the council decision to approve 18 night games with conditions covering public transport and traffic management. "But we do not yet know their reasons." The dispute mechanism has been used only once before. On that occasion the WA Football Commission dropped the dispute. If Ms MacTiernan decided not to hear the argument, then the two sides must agree on an independent arbitrator. Mr Burton said it was a quasi-legal process that could involve legal costs to the council. The events package has already been used this year. The rugby union game held last weekend was run on joint-tickets which included public transport. Some Subiaco councillors are concerned at the growing number of events at Subiaco - it has gone from 12 a year 10 years ago to 18 this year and the commission wants 32. Footnote: A side-effect of the WA Football Commission deciding to end parking on Mueller Park is that Subiaco community groups will miss out on making money by organising the football parking - a job they have done for about 15 years. Subiaco council recently asked the WA Planning Commission (which has to endorse all agreements on the oval) to approve a condition that the Football Commission provide an extra 10 free tickets for community groups to use fund-raising. But the Planning Commission declined. The mayor of Subiaco and councillors get two tickets each to every football event, in all codes, at the oval. Do you have something to say? Write to us and we may publish your letter next week. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME - NEXT> Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.