Approved: Manly Sea Eagles to get $36.1 million Brookvale Oval upgrade

After years of uncertainty — and frustration from Manly Sea Eagles fans — it can finally be revealed that Brookvale Oval will be getting a $36.1 million upgrade. See the artist impressions and find out what it will include.

An artist impression of the Brookvale Oval upgrades.

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The Manly Sea Eagles’ fortress, Brookvale Oval will undergo a $36.1 million upgrade that includes a 3000-seat grandstand and a centre of excellence.

After years of uncertainty the Manly Daily can reveal Brookvale Oval will finally get a multimillion-dollar upgrade, with the State Government chipping in $20 million.

A Federal Government grant, secured by Warringah MP Tony Abbott, worth $12.5 million will make up the bulk of the extra funding.

Brookvale Oval will undergo a $36.1m upgrade.

Another $3.6 million will come from the football club.

The centre of excellence will be incorporated into a 3,000 seat stand at the northern end of the ground.

It will also feature gyms, medical facilities, changing rooms, a hydrotherapy centre and community facilities.

Manly Sea Eagles player Joel Thompson with Thomas O'Malley, 5, Sea Eagles CEO Lyall Gorman and Daly Cherry-Evans with Zali O’Malley, 5, are celebrating the good news. Picture: AAP Image/Annika Enderborg

Sea Eagles chief executive Lyall Gorman said it was excellent news for both the club and community and hinted that it was just the start of a wider revamp of the ground now known as Lottoland.

“Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said when asked if this was stage one in the upgrade. “But we have not shied away from talking about developing Lottoland. We want to make it a better facility for all involved and hopefully this announcement will provide us with that momentum.”

An artist impression of the Brookvale Oval upgrades.

He said he would be meeting Northern Beaches Council bosses in the coming days and hoped building work would start at the end of this season. He estimated the work would take 12 to 15 months.

Northern Beaches Council owns Brookvale Oval and lease it to the Sea Eagles. Mayor Michael Regan welcomed the news and said he now awaited an announcement on what he called “stage 2” which “includes the full rejuvenation for the whole of Brookvale Oval”.

What Brookvale Oval currently looks like.

He said he also wants to see the venue incorporated into the Stadiums NSW Trust.

“This is critical so as not to be an ongoing financial burden on our ratepayers,” he said.

Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin said the announcement was welcome news and would help in the development of a women’s team.

“This is fantastic news for all who love their rugby league on the peninsula and who want to see opportunities for our young players to aspire to be part of a Centre of Excellence here on the beaches.”

State Liberal member for Wakehurst Brad Hazzard said the funds will also enable the club to get even closer to the community.

“This is a win for the entire community,” he said. “We all recognise what engagement in sport can do to build community. It will ensure that there is a high performance centre for the Sea Eagles which will be at the heart of growing the sport across the community.”