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Sea Eagles to push ahead with plans to upgrade the Fortress

SEA Eagles chairman Scott Penn says the Baird State Government stadiums policy won’t stop the club’s plans to redevelop the Fortress.

SEA Eagles chairman Scott Penn says the failure of the Baird State Government to include funding for the upgrade of Brookvale Oval as part of their controversial stadiums policy won’t stop the club’s plans to redevelop the Fortress.

Penn said the government has drawn a line in the sand in terms of the stadiums they are going to fund in a significant way.

“In the first instance we weren’t looking for significant funding from government because we were trying to get private enterprise to fund it,” Penn said.

“But what we need from them is significant planning support because we are going to need to push the boundaries of planning in and around the area to make sure whoever develops it can get a sound financial return.”

An artist impression of the proposed development of Brookvale Oval. Picture: Marchese Partners
An artist impression of the proposed development of Brookvale Oval. Picture: Marchese Partners

Penn said that the Sea Eagles were still working behind the scenes at getting the much needed upgrade the ground needs.

“Earlier in the year I was very hopeful we would have more support primarily from council in wanting to look at a bigger plan of redevelopment in terms of a bigger play from a residential point of view because that is the only way it is going to get funded,” he said.

“They have been a bit lukewarm on it to date.

“But we have to find a solution everyone can live with because it deserves to be a contemporary suburban ground with just over 20,000 seats with all the modern facilities.”

Could this be the new look Brookvale Oval? Picture: Marchese Partners
Could this be the new look Brookvale Oval? Picture: Marchese Partners

Penn also believes the $10m promised by Tony Abbott when he was prime minister to upgrade Brookvale would still be forthcoming

“My understanding is that it has been set aside but we still have to come up with the right plan for it,” Penn said.

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Scott Penn, Chairman of the Manly Sea Eagles in his North Sydney office. Picture: Mark Evans
Scott Penn, Chairman of the Manly Sea Eagles in his North Sydney office. Picture: Mark Evans

He said chief executive Joe Kelly has been in constant dialogue with the key people in the Federal Government who have allocated that funding.

Penn also voiced his frustrations at the ongoing dispute with Warringah Council over the costs to lease what has been Manly’s home since 1947.

The club outlays $125,000 for each home game which includes $45,000 before the gates have even opened.

“At the moment it is a bit of a stalemate but we are trying to find a resolution that can work and be back where we need to be,” Penn said.

“We are constantly held to ransom over the maintenance fees for the year.

“And the frustrating thing is that we know that if anyone else wants to rent it, the daily rental rate is $1000. As a result we lose money playing at Brookvale.

“We are happy to pay a fair commercial rate but when our peers can play any other suburban ground in Sydney for under $10,000 a game, why are we being charged so much?

“We want to stay at Brookvale long term, it is our home ground and we want to play as many games as we can there but it has to be at the commercial rate that the club can afford,” Penn said.

“We will do everything we can to get a positive outcome.”

Penn said that includes the likelihood of CEO Joe Kelly and Chief Financial Officer Neil Bare fronting the next council meeting to have dialogue with the councillors.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/sport/sea-eagles-to-push-ahead-with-plans-to-upgrade-the-fortress/news-story/06fdce0f72dd70a1962c3e658eda363d