Thursday, June 19, 2008

Taxpayers in the dark over cost of World Youth Day

Taxpayers are yet to see the light on how much the Catholic Church's World Youth Day event will cost when it begins next month.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to descend on Sydney when the Pope arrives to lead the World Youth Day Event.

However the Catholic Church and New South Wales State Government are yet to finalise the cost of the event, Fairfax Media reports.

The Premier's department is now refusing to release documents relating to the cost of World Youth Day, saying that the Government is at a "sensitive stage of negotiation".

The event will utilise Randwick Racecourse and Hyde Park.

Costs associated with their use are yet to be confirmed, just weeks out from the Pope's arrival in Australia.

Reports suggest that bringing the surface of Randwick Racecourse back to it's pre-event condition could cost $200,000.

"The racing and training facilities at Randwick Racecourse will be returned in original condition by the agreed date of 23 August," the Church said.

The State Government has also been forced to payout a $150,000 bond for the use of Hyde Park.

The City of Sydney Council is also expecting damage to Hyde Park.

"There is no question that many of the grassed areas of Hyde Park will need to be returfed after this event."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce