St Kilda is a step closer to a Moorabbin homecoming after lodging planning application
ST KILDA is a step closer to its Moorabbin homecoming after lodging an application for the $29 million redevelopment of the iconic home ground. SEE HOW MOORABBIN MIGHT LOOK
St Kilda
Don't miss out on the headlines from St Kilda. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ST KILDA is a step closer to its Moorabbin homecoming after lodging a planning application for the $29 million redevelopment of the club’s iconic home ground.
Saints chief executive Matt Finnis said it was exciting for Saints people to see pictures that “reimagine what Moorabbin can be”.
The reserve upgrade is set to be completed by the end of 2017 and is billed as the first purpose-designed facility that can see footballers through from Auskick to the AFL or new national women’s competition.
It will include an indoor basketball and netball court; a public piazza and a purpose-built space for St Kilda’s Junction Studio, home to the club’s community programs.
The redevelopment will also include a new room for the club’s social club and 83 poker machines.
“The milestone of signing off on a design which is lodged with council makes it very real — and for a lot of Saints people the idea of resurrecting and returning to Moorabbin has been a dream,” Finnis said.
“One of the features of this design and our plans is the creation of a community hub and a place which we hope will be the beating heart of Moorabbin.”
St Kilda won extra government and council funding, as well as AFL financial support, for the return to Moorabbin after an earlier mooted return to the Junction Oval was snuffed out by the Andrews Government early last year.
St Kilda is aiming to raise $5 million for the build and Finnis said fundraising among key supporters had been going well behind the scenes.
“There have been a couple of significant lead donors who have given us great confidence that the capital raising will be successful,” Finnis said.
The club will share digs with the Southern Football Netball League, South Metro Junior Football League, the AFL Victoria regional office and the Sandringham Dragons.
Kingston Council — which had already planned redevelopment on a smaller scale before St Kilda made the bid to return — will review the plans and take public feedback over coming months.
Saints president Peter Summers said the renovation would “transform a tired, rundown community eyesore into something special and treat the precinct with the respect it deserves”.
“It will restore Moorabbin’s place in our club’s history and provide a great platform for our future,” he said.
St Kilda moved to Seaford at the beginning of the decade after a dispute with the council over poker machines back in 2007. But the shift proved unpopular with players and the club identified it as contributing to a disconnect with supporters.
Acting sports minister Philip Dalidakis said last night the upgrade presented “a rare opportunity for footballers of all ages and abilities to train and play at a venue they share with their heroes”.
Originally published as St Kilda is a step closer to a Moorabbin homecoming after lodging planning application
What did Goody and the Dees really give up?
A crestfallen Melbourne left Alice Springs with Ross Lyon’s words ringing in the ears of its administrators – if you’re selling home games, ‘you are not a serious footy club’.
Ross was right to send message — he just had the wrong target
While singling out Gold Coast might not have been the right play for Ross Lyon, he is on the money about the AFL’s compromised draft. Jon Ralph writes, other clubs can’t escape scrutiny.