Brookvale Oval upgrade: Manly Sea Eagles get council vote for centre of excellence proposal
The Manly Sea Eagles are one step closer to building a 3000-seat grandstand and Centre of Excellence, at Brookvale Oval.
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The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club is one step closer to building its own centre and 3000-seat grandstand at Brookvale Oval after councillors agreed to grant a 30 year ground lease.
The proposal includes a new undercover grandstand, food and drink facilities, a state-of-the-art gym, rehabilitation pools and multipurpose education facilities.
Northern Beaches Council will apply to the Minister for Local Government for final consent after majority of councillors voted in favour of a lease for the construction and management of the centre on Tuesday.
According to council agenda papers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles requested a 30-year term lease due to the “size of the project and financial investment”.
In considering the proposal, the council noted the public objections received over traffic and parking.
It comes after the Sea Eagles development application for the centre and grandstand facilities was approved by Sydney North Planning Panel in July.
During a Planning Panel meeting Sea Eagles representative Chris Dare said the $33m plan would create jobs.
“We are going to be able to create jobs that are so needed in the construction area at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Dare said.
“Over the past 15 years conditions of the facilities at the Brookvale Oval have steadily fallen and the venue is now one of the worst in the NRL.
“Our vision is to locate the club in the heartland of the support base, it’s critical to us now and into the future and to represent the community at the highest level.”
After campaigning long and hard, the team also managed to secure $32.5m in funding from the State and Federal governments.
Initially Northern Beaches Council had opposed the Lottoland development because it did not sit within the management plan for Brookvale Park and because it would result in the removal of 11 brush box trees, which are listed as a local heritage item.
But on Tuesday evening Mayor Michael Regan voiced his support for the upcoming project.
“I think it’s a good outcome in general. The feedback we’ve got from the community has been largely positive. In terms of construction, there’s legitimate concerns residents have in terms of noise, access and parking issues but that comes with any development,” Cr Regan told the Manly Daily.
“The redevelopment of the oval has been the centre of my tenure in politics. The major redevelopment has been over promised and under delivered and I thank the State and Federal governments for their contributions.
“It’s important to note the funding was given to the Sea Eagles and not to the council. It has been a complex process but has been positive overall for the community.”
He said the council remained disappointed about the trees being cut down but the Sea Eagles have a good history of managing the space.
“On Tuesday Cr Warren mentioned concern over the trees. I thought the planners got that wrong, in my view they could have kept the trees and accommodated the Centre of Excellence. They could have had their cake and eaten it too.
“However, it’s also been noted the centre’s focus on women in sport and participation, which is a bonus.”