Thomas the Tank Engine and the Bananas in Pyjamas are set to star in the $300m redevelopment of the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse. With ABC stablemates the Wiggles and the Hoolie Doolies, the Sesame Street characters and Bob the Builder, the much-loved TV characters will be the main attractions of a theme park proposed for the little-used Showgrounds site at Flemington.

The ABC has confirmed it is keen to be part of the precinct, to be developed under the State Government's Partnership Victoria policy. 'It's the logical place, it's the obvious place for this project,' said ABC consumer publishing general manager Grahame Grassby.

Under the plan, TV show sets would be recreated, Disney World-style, to allow children to visit Bananas in Pyjamas' Cuddles Avenue or Sesame Street and meet their favourite characters. In keeping with the equine theme, the ABC also wants to build a real-life version of the pony club-centred hit drama The Saddle Club and establish a garden for its evergreen TV show Gardening Australia.
Royce Millar & Kirsty Simpson The Age 1feb04

'Tacky and dangerous . . .
. . . an action which would seriously damage the ABC's reputation if it proceeds', is how Terry Laidler, FABC Vic president, described The Kids Kingdom theme park venture.

'The ABC's integrity lies in its independence. The broadcaster has earned public confidence and respect because it does not sell cars to adults or lollies to children.

'If the ABC Board allows this scheme to proceed, it will be a betrayal of the public's trust in the broadcaster's integrity. It will undermine the esteem in which the public holds the ABC. And, with the spurious excuse that the ABC can earn its own money, the government may withdraw further from its responsibility to fund the broadcaster.

'Children are bombarded with television programs that are little more than disguised advertisements and with activities to entice them to spend money. The ABC has earned the trust of parents because this is not what it is about'

Labor baulks at theme park bid
Federal Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner has expressed concern about the ABC's mooted involvement in a theme park proposed for the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.

He said yesterday he feared it could propel the national broadcaster into making programming decisions based on marketing considerations. "It is vital the ABC does not base its broadcasting decisions on commercial factors, as is happening in the commercial media," Mr Tanner said.
Geoff Strong The Age 3feb04