Construction delays push back opening of redeveloped Sharks Leagues Club at Woolooware
The highly-anticipated reopening of the Sharks Leagues Club at their NRL team’s home ground is at least 12-months away after years of delays.
NSW
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The highly-anticipated reopening of the Sharks Leagues Club at their NRL team’s home ground is at least 12-months away.
The leagues club was originally due to be completed and opened in February 2023, after a year and a half delay, along with retail tenancies in the Woolooware Bay Town Centre.
But in November developer of the project announced a subcontractor went bust leaving the Sharks club incomplete, no handover of the site and other retail tenancies’ opening dates pushed back.
Club members were recently told in an information night that the roof would be complete in March 2024, the facade in May to July with a club hopefully open in late 2024.
The old leagues club was closed in 2019 and Sharks were initially working towards a reopening in October 2021 but then a completion date was delayed until February 2022, then to January this year and finally November.
“We have no official club hand over date to commence the fit out; the roof of the current building required replacement; as does the facade; while the delays have resulted in cost escalations and a design review – all presenting considerable challenges which we have been navigating through,” a Sharks spokesman said.
“We thank our members for their patience and understanding, however while the design has undergone some change, the internal fit out or the look and feel of the club hasn’t been compromised and we remain committed to delivering a first-class facility once complete.”
Sharks executive officer Dino Mezzatesta said time frames for the roof and facade needed to be completed when predicted for the fit out to occur and before a firm date for the end of next year could be locked in.
“There is still some work to do,” he said. “It is very disappointing that we are yet to get the hand over of the club lot to commence the fit out especially because the rest of the precinct will be opened in advance,” he said.
“The leagues club was supposed to be the hero of the precinct but it will be the last to be completed.”
Mr Mezzatesta said the club’s members were understanding of the delays but were no doubt disappointed, however they now understood the reasons and the club would continue to communicate updates.
He said the club and the developer Novm had a good working relationship and were both looking forward to having the leagues club complete.
Executive officer of Novm Adrian Liaw said like other construction projects in the country, Novm, Parkview and the Sharks had to navigate “many unforeseen challenges” including the impacts of extreme weather, Covid, supply chain disruption and contractors going out of business, inflation, and the impact of interest rates on costs.
“This is a long-term, visionary project that will leave a lasting positive legacy for the local area, and we’re confident in time the challenges we’ve had to deal with will be a distant memory,” he said.
Members were told in 2009 the Sharks were facing substantial debt so in 2011 the club entered into an agreement for the development of its land.
That included a $10m advance payment but no sunset clause was agreed on the development.
In 2012-2013 a concept plan, then a residential project was approved and a year later residential sales commenced, and Parkview was appointed as the builder.
In 2015, the construction of stage one of the residential building commenced, then completed in 2016.
By 2018, stage two residential was completed with stage three started and approval was given for the concept plan amendment for stage four.
Demolition of the existing club was discussed but determined to not be viable and it shut on December 21, 2019 and the Sharks at Kareela was acquired in 2020.
Members were also told PointsBet Stadium would retain the same capacity as the season 2023, however the Woolooware Bay retail precinct would be open and the carpark operational.
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