MAYOR HOSES DOWN MELBOURNE ARTS CENTRE SPIRE FIRE CONTROVERSY
Ben Jensen 1 January 2012

By Ben Jensen twitter.com/thecattery CITY OF MELBOURNE LORD MAYOR Robert Doyle has hosed down suggestions the planning of and response to the fireworks fiasco at the Melbourne Arts Centre was anything but first rate. Speaking on radio 3AW today Doyle admitted he was not in possession of all the facts yet but that as far as he was aware, there were no combustibles on the spire other than the cardboard and plastic fireworks themselves, which effectively burned themselves out.

The fire caused a frenzy on Twitter, as people turned to the new medium rather than mainstream media for adequate information. Hundreds of photographs were uploaded by people on the ground, the best photos coming from those perched at higher vantage points in or on top of buildings in the CBD.

Meanwhile acting arts centre boss Tim Brinkman said a proper structural inspection of the spire will take place to see if the damage was anything other than superficial. "While it is unlikely that anything other than cosmetic damage has occurred, the MFB has asked Arts Centre Melbourne to arrange a structural inspection of the spire. Arrangements are being made for this to happen". He also said an investigation will be carried out, possibly independent of the City's own. "We will do a full investigation to find the cause in the hope that Arts Centre Melbourne can continue to play a spectacular role during future New Year's Eve celebrations".