Cricketers appeal exclusion

BY DAVE BURGESS

The body that administers the Basin Reserve and Cricket Wellington have both been excluded from a seminar to map out the ground's future.

But the group that organised the seminar - Wellington Civic Trust - says it was an oversight that will be remedied.

The stoush comes as work starts on a $450,000 Wellington City Council project to build 10 off-field practice wickets at the ground.

The venture, expected to be ready for the Australian cricketers' visit this summer, would see the ground meet International Cricket Council standards to allow players to practise while games are in progress.

Basin Reserve Trust spokesman John Morrison was delighted work had started but was less happy about being snubbed by the Civic Trust.

"Inviting neither us nor Cricket Wellington [to the seminar] is like a pub with no beer.

"I think it is a disgrace and there is no real true love for the Basin Reserve from this mob."

Wellington Civic Trust has organised the day-long seminar to look at the future of the Basin and surrounding area. It has invited a range of people to speak, including school pupils, but had not invited either the Basin Reserve Trust, which administers the ground, or main tenants Cricket Wellington.

Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said hearing of the meeting had "come from left field".

"We are the major tenant of the ground and we are a little surprised not to receive an invite to a meeting talking about the future of our home."

Civic Trust chairwoman Sharmian Firth said the situation was an oversight and invitations would be sent to both groups.

"We are trying to round up all the people who we think should speak and there is certainly no intention to exclude anyone," she said.

The seminar would examine the future of the Basin in relation to proposed developments in the area including the traffic flyover at the northern end of the ground.

Mr Morrison said the latest flyover option being looked at was a "sensation" for the Basin.

"It looks like the road could be butted up against Construction House, behind the derelict buildings across from the ground, and we could end up with an extra 20 metres.

"We may be able to have a really nice entranceway through landscaping ... and we would still like to put a small stand there too."

- © Fairfax NZ News