Magazine - Brumbies Welcome Griffith Oval's Listing

By Editor in Rugby on 28th Aug 2010 13:00

The ACT Brumbies say a decision to permanently add Griffith Oval to the territory's Heritage Register will not affect their plans to redevelop the area.

The ACT Heritage Council decided at a meeting last week to permanently include the historic oval on its register as a historic home of rugby in the territory and citing the ground's mature trees, deep community links and ''aesthetic qualities''.

The oval, on the corner of Captain Cook Crescent and Austin Street, is the long-time training ground of the Brumbies and the club has been locked in a planning battle with residents over its redevelopment plans. The Brumbies' scheme to redevelop the oval and an adjoining block for new headquarters and 150 residential units has incensed locals who do not want to see large-scale apartment buildings in their neighbourhood.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said yesterday he welcomed the heritage listing and that would not have an impact on the club's plans to develop 4500sqm of offices and residential units at the oval.

''The Heritage Council has written to us to clarify that the heritage listing does not preclude development on the oval, it merely identifies components of the site that need to be protected,'' he said.

For more on this story including the response of the Griffith-Narrabundah Community Association Group to the news, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times. www.canberratimes.com.au

Read more articles in Rugby, by Editor or from August 2010.