MELBOURNE (Reuters)
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will be given a new stand and a capacity of 100,000 people in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but lose its 1928 members' pavilion in a US$200 million facelift. The Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne welcomed the Victoria state government announcement in a front-page lead story on Wednesday. However National Trust chairman Randall Bell called the decision "dictatorial" and questioned the lack of public consultation. "I don't think there is a need to demolish the members' pavilion to proceed with the redevelopment," the newspaper quoted Bell as saying in their story. "I'm outraged at the premier's and the MCG Trust's dictatorial approach to such a sensitive and important issue." The ground's capacity will be reduced to 70,000 during the construction which will include the dismantling of the historic Long Room before it is rebuilt in a new stand. The Age said one giant new structure would replace the heritage-listed Ponsford, Olympic and members' stands and any demolition of the stands would require the state government's preservation watchdog, Heritage Victoria's approval to allow it to go ahead. It remained unclear if delays would occur if significant numbers among the Melbourne Cricket Club's (MCC) 70,000 members disagreed at a meeting next week,the Age added.

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