Manuka Oval's planned $4 million upgrade can go ahead despite the historic ground's new heritage protected status.
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The ACT's Heritage Council told a Legislative Assembly Committee yesterday the agency would not stand in the way of the planned upgrade to the South Canberra sportsground.
But there will be no quick fix for the nearby Canberra Services Club, destroyed by fire in April. It is unlikely to be rebuilt until a master plan for the entire ''Manuka Heritage Precinct'' is developed.
Upgrades to the oval worth nearly $4 million are in the planning stages.
They include 4300 temporary seats to boost the ground's capacity before Greater Western Sydney begins playing Australian Football League games there next year, and plans are also being drawn up for a new media centre and improvements to the Hawke and Bradman stands.
Floodlights that would allow night cricket or football to be played at Manuka are also being considered in the longer term.
Heritage Council manager Gerhard Zatschler told the Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services yesterday that the areas of the ground marked for a revamp, the stands and the lights, were not covered by the heritage listing.
''In terms of the stands, that's not an issue, as the Heritage Council has indicated that work can go ahead on them, equally with the lights,'' Mr Zatschler said.
''There may be a problem if they decide to put a rectangular field in there instead of an oval, but that's not going to be the case, given that it's going to be the heartland of cricket and of AFL in the ACT.
''The Heritage Council has given an undertaking to work with the proponents to achieve a positive outcome in terms of maintaining the heritage values, but also the social use'' of the precinct.
But it is thought that the rebuilding of the services club will not be complete for at least two years, according to the heritage manager.
It would also have to wait until an integrated plan for the area's historic buildings was in place.
Mr Zatschler said that Territory Venues and Events, the owner of Manuka Oval, wanted an integrated approach to any redevelopment of the precinct, which also includes the services club, the old jazz school and Manuka Pool.
''We're looking at developing a master plan for the precinct and the intention was that a presentation would be made to the Heritage Council some time this month,'' Mr Zatschler said.
Planning Minister Simon Corbell pointed out that with the services club destroyed, its heritage values were significantly changed.
''Because the Canberra Services Club has been destroyed, the heritage values are different now from what they were previously,'' the minister said.
''Nevertheless, it is desirable, given that all these sites sit within the Manuka Circle precinct, that there is an integrated response, because any redevelopment on the Canberra Services Club site should nevertheless be in sympathy with the overall context of the adjoining heritage listed properties.''