Mayor pushes Lottoland upgrade at Brookvale despite funding confusion
A NEW push to upgrade Lottoland – which could allow developers to build up to seven storeys to the south of the oval in exchange for a stadium of up to 20,000 seats – will start next week.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A NEW push to upgrade Lottoland – which could allow developers to build up to seven storeys to the south of the oval in exchange for a stadium of up to 20,000 seats – will start next week.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the time was right to redevelop Brookvale Oval’s outdated grandstands and infrastructure and he would try to get the process moving at Tuesday’s council meeting.
He said the council would push forward regardless of confusion over whether “promised” money from the state was still available.
Sea Eagles owner Scott Penn remains steadfast there is a “longstanding agreement” between the State Government and his club to fund an upgrade.
He said they were still working under the presumption of receiving $12.5 million from the Federal Government, a Centre of Excellence grant, plus $10 million from the State Government, in what amounted to a verbal agreement with then-premier Mike Baird.
Last year the Manly Daily reported Mr Baird broke the news to the Sea Eagles in a late-night call to former boss Joe Kelly that they could apply for $10 million grant to kickstart an upgrade. Mr Baird was quoted as saying: “This is great news and I look forward to the Sea Eagles putting in their application as soon as possible.”
But a spokeswoman for NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres yesterday said the only funding available was through the Centre of Excellence fund and successful applicants were yet to be determined. She was not aware of a previous commitment from the state to kick in $10 million.
“Brookvale Oval is owned by the local council and the council is responsible for its future,” she said. “Any development concept would be the responsibility of the local council.”
Mr Penn said they were leaning towards building a centre of excellence at Lottoland as part of an upgrade but had also been relying on the $10 million he said was promised by Mr Baird.
On top of that, former prime minister Tony Abbott promised $12.5 million towards an upgrade, which is in this year’s budget and available when the Sea Eagles require it.
“The $12.5 million from the Federal Government and $10 million from State to do an eastern stand is an existing commitment. The centre of excellence funding was meant to be totally separate to that,” Mr Penn said.
Despite the confusion over state funds, Cr Regan said the way forward was to attract a mix of public and private investors to fund the redevelopment of Brookvale Park as an urban rejuvenation project that would kick off the revitalisation of the stadium.
He said ideas included building an eastern stand, a centre of excellence, an expanded range of community uses and mixed-use development.
“I believe that now is the time to refine a solution that not only takes the financial burden of maintaining Brookvale Oval from the ratepayers of the northern beaches but also delivers an amazing outcome for years to come,” he said.
Before the September election, Cr Regan estimated that 2000 seats under cover on the hill would cost about $15 million while 4000 would cost $25 million.
In the meantime, the Sea Eagles will start to build an extension of the east wing in 2018, which has been delayed by about a year.