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The ACT Government says it will next week remove a disc golf basket from the middle of the SIEV X Memorial in Weston Park, a structure which commemorates drowned asylum seekers. The move follows a complaint that playing sport in the middle of the memorial was disrespectful to the dead. A total of 22 baskets have been installed permanently in Weston Park so that people can play disc golf - a sport where players try to get a frisbee in a basket in as few throws as possible. One of the baskets is inside the memorial, which commemorates the lives of 353 asylum seekers drowned at sea in 2001 enroute to Christmas Island. Up to 100 players are contesting the national disc golf championships in Weston Park this weekend. ACT Disc Golf Club president Todd Nowack said the installation of the permanent baskets had been approved by the ACT government and the National Capital Authority Mr Nowack said the club had no desire to disrespect the SIEV X Memorial, the significance of which was explained to players and in course notes. And he said earlier on Friday the club was open to discussions about moving the basket in the memorial. "I think it's a very important memorial," Mr Nowack said. Renowned author Steve Biddulp, one of the proponents of the memorial, said its steering committee did not ask for the basket to be removed, despite acknowledging "it is not the most sensitive siting". "The SIEV X Memorial committee are aware of the situation, but so far the interactions with the frisbee golf event have been respectful and they have acknowledged in their literature the history and purpose of the memorial," Mr Biddulph said. "While its not the most sensitive siting of their golf target, which is one of a series across the park, people have always played and picnicked at the site, and we believe the memorial touches everyone who goes near it. "It's in a park and is meant to be a place where children and parents play, and are happy and free, as those who drowned would have wanted to be.'' However, a local resident suggested the basket inside the memorial was "very disrespectful to the dead, their families and the churches, schools and community groups that erected this memorial". Former chief minister Jon Stanhope also said the memorial site should not be used for the entertainment and amusement of others. "That asylum seekers have been dehumanised and demonised by both sides of politics is probably partly responsible for people thinking it is okay to play frivolous games in the middle of a memorial to hundreds of dead Muslim men, women and children,'' Mr Stanhope said. A Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate spokesman said late on Friday the one basket inside the memorial would be removed next week. "We understand the concerns of the community,'' he said. The SIEV X Memorial was the result of a nationwide competition and the poles were made by schools, churches and community groups. Mr Biddulp suggested the memorial and public recreation could co-exist. "The memorial draws hundreds of people each week including school groups, visitors to Canberra, and overseas families and friends of those who died,'' he said. "Recently a relative added the name of one of those who drowned, as our own lists are incomplete. Only the Australian Federal Police have the full list of those who died, and they have so far not being willing to make those available. "So the memorial is doing its work of remembering those lives that were lost under our border protection policies." A spokesperson for the NCA said in August it approved 27 baskets for the disc golf course in Weston Park. "The works approval application received by the NCA did not identify that there was a basket in close proximity to the memorial. The NCA has not received any complaints, however, the NCA would have no objection to the basket being relocated if it was causing community concern,'' the spokesperson said.

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