Gold Coast Titans plan multi-million NRL leagues club development at Oxenford

The Gold Coast Titans will build a massive multimillion-dollar leagues club on council-owned land in a bold deal to secure the NRL side’s financial future. The proposal, kept under wraps for more than two years, has been revealed in an explosive secret email. SEE THE SITE.

A multimillion-dollar Gold Coast Titans leagues club will be built on city owned land in a bold deal to secure the NRL side’s financial future.

The plan, developed under top-secret conditions for more than two years, was revealed in an explosive confidential email sent to Gold Coast city leaders last night by council chief executive Dale Dickson

The leaked email reveals the club want to build a 2500 sqm licenced community club on a 22,000 sq m site at Oxenford Park bordering the M1.

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Artist impression of Gold Coast Titans community leagues club. Picture: Supplied by Gold Coast Titans

“The Gold Coast Titans have approached the City with a request to lease or purchase a city owned parcel of land located at Oxenford for the purpose of constructing and operating a licenced community club,” Mr Dickson wrote.

“Following representations from the Titans, the city has made an ‘in principle’ offer to lease the land, subject to a number of preconditions being met,” Mr Dickson wrote.

The Gold Coast City Council land at Oxenford where the club would be built.

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“Financially, a community club would provide a platform for the Titans to continue, enhance and expand the reach of the club’s community programs, while also providing some financial relief to the football operations.

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Gold Coast Council CEO Dale Dickson. Photo: Jerad Williams

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“It would also provide a community hub for members, fans and guests of the Titans and Gold Coast residents and visitors.”

A development application will be made to the council in coming weeks, with a report expected to go before councillors in March.

If approved by council, it is expected to be ready for the 2021 season, with the club requiring two years for construction and to secure liquor and gaming machine licences.

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Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly last night confirmed the plans to the Gold Coast Bulletin and said it would be based on the same model as that of the North Queensland Cowboys — a separate football and community club.

“A community club was an integral part of the case we presented to the NRL as a sustainable model for the Titans. The Titans still makes small losses while investing over $2 million into community and junior development projects,” he said.

Mal Meninga joined the Titans in November. (AAP Image/Darren England)

“The owners want to continue and hopefully grow that involvement and we believed that those objects fitted well within the community club objectives.

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It should be pointed out that although Titans programs will be central to the community club the constitution and also the community club directors will also be focused on becoming integrated into the local community and support local sporting, cultural clubs and local charities.”

Mr Kelly said the facility would create 80 new jobs.

News of the proposed facility caps off a big month for the club after the duel signings of rugby league immortal Mal Meninga as head of performance and culture and new chief executive Steve Mitchell.

The team will continue to play at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

Any community lease agreement reached by the club and council would be a similar to those in place with Burleigh Bears Rugby League Football Club at Pizzey Park, Broadbeach Bowls and Community Club and Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.

Mr Dickson noted in his email that there was a range of key issues to consider including social and financial aspects as well s the loss of recreational space.

Council staff have already begun a preliminary assessment of these impacts as well as developing a masterplan for the Oxenford park site, which is used by the Oxenford Men’s Shed, Coomera-Hope Island Cricket Club and local schools.