Council bans crosses from Esplanade

THE Coalition for the Defence of Human Life has been denied the use of the Esplanade Reserve to conduct a public meeting.

Council staff had recommended the group be granted permission. However, Councillor Bert Tudori moved refusal, citing safety concerns.

The group wanted to plant 8,000 wooden crosses into the Esplanade Reserve turf to promote the “defence of innocent human lives”.

Mr Tudori said the removal of the crosses would have to be carefully supervised.

He said council could be liable if somebody sustained an injury on a remnant of one of the crosses after the event.

A staff note to council said the reserve had recently been resurfaced and the crosses could damage the new turf.