MCG loses track

Heavy machinery tore into the $20 million track at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a 30-day challenge to build a football field roared into life.

Workers were pulling up the track just 12 hours after the last minutes of the Commonwealth Games were played out on the same arena.

Up to 500 contractors will work weekends and around the clock if necessary to have the G ready for Essendon v Collingwood on Anzac Day.

Workers at the MCG must remove the 12mm rubber running track and 100mm of asphalt.

The infield grass will also be taken up before new sand is trucked in to create a flat surface. With good weather, grass should be down inside three weeks.

About 10,000 seats at the Punt Rd end taken out to accommodate the running track will not be put back by Anzac Day, leaving capacity at 90,000.

Games minister Justin Madden confirmed the Government would save $500,000 in compensation to the AFL by getting football back early.

A spokesman said the Government was rethinking a pledge to give a significant part of the money to athletics clubs.

As Melbourne moved into post-Games life, it was rumoured the Games security bill had blown out by more than$200 million.

That could mean taxpayers have to foot a Games bill of $770 million.

The figure is $73 million over the cap pledged by VictorianPremier Steve Bracks in 2003.

A claim by police for Games payments could bump that figure up by another $19 million.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said the crime rate appeared to have fallen greatly during the Games.

She added that 16,000 cars and trucks were searched for bombs during the Games.

Ticket sales were confirmed at 1.56 million out of 1.8 million, a clearance of 87 per cent.

Melbourne 2006 said almost two million attended festival events and live sites.

The state government also said sports and festival patrons took 1.8 million public transport trips.

Games Minister Justin Madden backed away from a pledge to pay a Games dividend to grassroots athletics.

Channel Nine said 3.1 million people watched the Closing Ceremony in the five capital cities, headed by 1.4 million in Melbourne. The Opening Ceremony peaked at four million nationally.

The Bracks Government yesterday said its previously secret security budget was $119 million.

The Federal Government said it had spent $85 million, taking the total to $204 million.

Victoria created a separate security budget a year ago, so it would not be included in the $697 million Games budget.

Bracks said yesterday the special security budget was $73 million.

On questioning, Games Minister Justin Madden said that was on top of a security allocation of $46 million that remained in the main budget.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission is to rule soon on the Police Association's $100-a-day Games claim.

Nixon has said the claim could cost the Government $19 million.