The decrepit appearance of Waverley Park reported in yesterday's Herald Sun begs questions about Victoria's heritage law.

Like other owners of listed properties, the AFL finds itself in the invidious position of having to maintain a property that it cannot sell or demolish. Owners of heritage-listed properties should not be held to ransom by the preservation-at-all-costs mindset of certain sections of the bureaucracy.

The AFL cannot be expected to spend large sums on the care and maintenance of a 30-year-old ghost ground that does not generate revenue. It is time for a commonsense approach where the State Government, the AFL, Heritage Victoria and City of Monash act in good faith to settle the manner.

If Heritage Victoria believes good reasons exist to retain Waverley Park, it should seek to convince the Government to legislate for the compulsory acquisition of the ground and its attendant facilities - at a fair price.

Otherwise the ground should be sold and redeveloped.