Collingwood secretly lobbied for park

A series of secret meetings between the State Government and the Collingwood Football Club resulted in the decision to shift the Victorian Institute of Sport from its purpose-built Olympic Park headquarters - just four years after it moved in.

Documents show Collingwood was privately negotiating with the Government in mid-2007 to take control of the Olympic Park precinct, including the Lexus Centre facility the club shares with the VIS.

A briefing paper for Sports Minister James Merlino reveals Collingwood told the Government in August 2007 of its desire ''of taking over the entire [Lexus Centre] facility'' because it had run out of office space.

''This would require the relocation of the VIS to another facility,'' the paper, which is marked as having been prepared in ''consultation'' with Collingwood, advised.

The VIS and Athletics Victoria did not learn they were to leave Olympic Park until April last year, when Premier John Brumby - a passionate Magpie fan - announced a $50 million plan to shift both to Albert Park and give Collingwood sole access to Olympic Park.

Mr Brumby's announcement shocked the VIS, especially after $13 million in taxpayer funds had been spent redeveloping what was the 1956 Olympic Games swimming pool into a world-class facility for the state's best athletes.

Some in the athletics community have questioned the role played by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who is on the board of Athletics Australia, the governing body of Olympic Park tenant Athletics Victoria.

Athletics Australia president Rob Fildes, a former Collingwood player, has defended Mr McGuire against any conflict-of-interest allegations, saying the Magpie chief was a strong advocate for athletics.

Mr McGuire yesterday said Collingwood had been considerate in giving up its contractual right to a training venue close to the Lexus Centre to allow the new soccer and rugby stadium to be built.

He said the plan to consolidate athletics with swimming at Albert Park and the football codes at Olympic Park would benefit all parties.

The VIS and Collingwood moved into the Lexus Centre as co-tenants in 2004. The club pays rent at commercial rates to the Government.

The Age understands the Government has told the VIS that Collingwood had no involvement in its decision to relocate the institute.

Many VIS and athletics officials remain angry at being forced to move but are fearful of speaking publicly out of concern it could jeopardise relations with the Government and spark a backlash from Collingwood.

Inaugural VIS executive director Frank Pyke said he regretted the institute being shifted so soon after settling into its purpose-built facilities.

''I am just disappointed that suddenly it is all up for grabs,'' Dr Pyke said. ''Especially with what had gone into the preparation of facilities for athletes who are representing Australia.''

Documents obtained by The Age under the Freedom of Information Act show that while the VIS was being kept in the dark about its future, the Government briefed the AFL in early 2008 about Collingwood's takeover of the Olympic Park precinct and the institute's relocation. The VIS board learned of the shift two months after the AFL was told.

Documents show Mr Merlino was taken on a tour of the Lexus Centre by Collingwood in August 2007, where he was told of the club's dislike of training at Gosch's Paddock, which is about 350 metres from the centre.

The Government had earlier opted to build a stadium for soccer and rugby at the Edwin Flack Reserve, which Collingwood was previously using.

According to the documents, Mr Merlino was told the club's contract with the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust stipulated ''its oval to be easily accessible from the Lexus Centre and that it have the ability to access the oval whenever it requires''.

In response, the Government decided to move athletics away from Olympic Park and redevelop the venue as a Collingwood training base.

The decision has angered famous athletes such as former champion runners Ron Clarke and John Landy. ''It is just not on,'' Mr Clarke said yesterday. ''It is like a lodger being able to tip you out of your house.''

Olympic rowing gold medallist James Tomkins trains at the VIS and is disappointed at how the Olympic sports have been ''kept out of the loop''. ''The end result could be great for all parties, but the only way that will be achieved is if everyone is allowed to be involved in the decision-making process,'' he said.

A spokesman for Mr Merlino said Collingwood played no role in the Government's decision. He said informal discussions were held with the VIS and Athletics Victoria prior to the announcement of the relocation.