Melbourne’s hopes of building a new $100 million home at Caulfield Racecourse have received a boost

There were fears the $195 million purchase by Mount Scopus Memorial College this week could jeopardise Melbourne’s plans to build an elite new facility – but there’s some good news.

Tensions are rising over Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse plans.

• First look: Inside Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse plans

Melbourne’s hopes of building a new $100 million home at Caulfield Racecourse have received a boost from its potential new neighbours.

Mount Scopus Memorial College, which purchased a massive slice of land at the track this week, said it had no plans to try and quash the project and was happy to help assist the Demons’ attempts to build an elite new headquarters.

There were fears the $195 million private school purchase this week could jeopardise Melbourne’s decade-long fight to find a new home close to the city after outgrowing AAMI Park.

The club is currently split between the MCG, Casey Fields and AAMI Park in a growing headache for players and staff.

But in a potential relief for the Demons ahead of Tuesday’s annual general meeting and hotly-contested board election, Scopus Foundation president David Gold confirmed the school wanted to work with the club on a central headquarters.

Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse.

“We look forward to continuing our discussions with the Melbourne Football Club,” Gold told the Herald Sun.

“We’re open to all opportunities to collaborate with others and build facilities that serve the needs of Caulfield and the broader Melbourne community.”

The school’s support helps the club clear another hurdle in its attempt to construct two football ovals and a pair of multi-purpose sports fields inside the track, and an administrative base outside the track next to the school site.

Outgoing CEO Gary Pert has previously said the club had the worst facilities in the AFL but wanted to build a “magnificent, state-of-the-art high performance centre” at Caulfield Racecourse.

“We’re acknowledged at a government level and by the AFL that we’re clearly on the bottom of the ladder for facilities,” Pert said.

“If I was to talk to anyone at the AFL and say, ‘I’ll meet you tomorrow at the Melbourne footy club,’ basically you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about because we’re in three, four, five different locations.”

The goodwill from Mount Scopus comes at a crucial time for the Demons after a grenade from Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga on Wednesday that local residents were unhappy the club’s plans could jeopardise a popular dog park.

While Melbourne dismissed the dog park barb, the final call will rest with the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust as the Demons continue to work on a business case to fund the project.

A Victorian Government spokesperson confirmed on Friday the “parcel of crown land is managed by the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust”.

Demons star Christian Petracca trains at Gosch's Paddock. Picture: Melbourne FC/Alex Ratcliffe

The club hopes to secure funding from the AFL, the Victorian Government, private donors and club sponsors in addition to its own cash reserves.

The Demons will be on the hunt for about another $70 million to secure the new home base and become a more attractive proposition for new recruits.

Melbourne lost its destination club mantle this year when ex-Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston back flipped on a decision to come to Melbourne and chose Collingwood amid worries about the club’s culture and the futures of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.

Melbourne’s new headquarters is a major priority for the club after its Yarra Park plan was shot down by local residents in 2018.

Pert said there was significant uspide for the community in Glen Eira if Melbourne’s new home was built there.

“When you go out and you look at a footprint of the Caulfield Racecourse it is far bigger than what our requirements are,” Pert said.

“We want to be part of an amazing multi-sport community precinct where individuals, teams and organisations in the whole Glen Eira area and even broader can share in our elite facilities.”

Hawthorn is on the verge of moving into its new home in Dingley and Richmond will significantly enhance its facilities at Punt Rd.

Melbourne wants to keep its setup at Casey Fields for its VFL team.

Barking mad: Fresh twist in Demons’ $100m facility project

Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga has delivered a shot at Melbourne’s new facility plans, saying residents are angry about the implications on the local dog park.

The area inside the Caulfield Racecourse has turned into a battle ground as the Demons try to build a new $100m headquarters after its previous plan at Yarra Park was shot down in 2018.

In a twist on Wednesday, Kanga indicated that he was not in favour of the Demons’ new plans at Caulfield due to the impact it could have on the popular dog-walking area inside the track.

But Melbourne was adamant on Wednesday there would be zero impact to the dog-walking area – as indicated by the club’s plans – and claimed that Kanga’s dog park barb on the crucial matter was highly misleading.

Tensions over the Demons’ high-stakes project were inflamed significantly when Kanga claimed on RSN radio that “some residents in the area” were “not totally satisfied” by Melbourne’s plans because of the implications to the dog park.

Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga. Picture: Jason Edwards

“They (Demons) are also looking at using the inside (track) area for professional sporting fields ... (but) we need to also remember and be conscious that it is a public reserve for the residents,” Kanga said.

“We, and me, personally use that dog park, and it is a very, very important aspect of community life.

“They don’t want to see it taken away, and neither do I.”

In response, RSN radio host Michael Felgate said “It (Melbourne’s facility) sounds like it is unlikely. It is too difficult to work with a major AFL team to take the centre space at Caulfield”.

Kanga insisted the MRC were “going to work closely” on the matter with the Demons and the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust who will make the call on Melbourne’s proposal.

The Reserve Trust, which has overseen Melbourne’s work on the site, is chaired by Sam Almaliki.

The Demons reacted angrily to Kanga’s commentary on Wednesday, saying the club had no plans whatsoever to take away the dog-walking area from inside the race track.

Melbourne was adamant their own plans to build two ovals, multi-purpose fields, change rooms and an administrative building was completely separate and could sit alongside the dog-walking park.

Outgoing CEO Gary Pert had previously said the local community supported the development. “The positive sentiment from so many local community organisations and groups has been wide-spread and the feasibility study has definitely highlighted the community’s desire to see this project come to life,” Pert said.

It comes after the MRC confirmed on Monday it had sold a 7.5 hectare wedge on the western side of the Caulfield precinct to Mount Scopus Memorial College for $195 million.

The Demons have been in contact with the private school about how they could work together as neighbours on the site.

Importantly, Melbourne’s feasibility study on the site was approved in September, paving way for the work on the business case to begin.

Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse.

The project is crucial to Melbourne to finally bring the club under one roof after sharing facilities at MCG, Casey Fields, Gosch’s Paddock and AAMI Park.

The Demons require about a further $70 million in AFL and government funding in addition to its own cash reserves to deliver the project at Caulfield which is expected to cost about $100 million.

The tensions over the facility on Tuesday come at a sensitive time for Melbourne as it prepares for a hotly-contested board election which closes on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s annual general meeting.

Nine members have nominated for four positions with president Brad Green urging members to support Steven Smith, Chris Barlow, Sally Freeman and Dr Angela Williams.

Green said it was important to vote to help stabilise the club’s future after a tumultuous year on and off the field.

“By supporting the Board’s strongly endorsed candidates – Sally Freeman, Dr. Angela Williams, Chris Barlow and Steven Smith – you are voting for a stable and united board with both continuity and fresh leadership that brings the diversity, skills, experience and dedication required to steer our club into a new era of sustained success,” Green said.

“This election is your chance to shape the future of our club.”

Melbourne would certainly face a member backlash if its Caulfield facility fell over after years of work from outgoing CEO Pert.

Originally published as Melbourne’s hopes of building a new $100 million home at Caulfield Racecourse have received a boost