Tony in the Lodge, Mike B: Premier: If we cant get this to happen now . . . .

[EagleFromMay1967]

The Liberal party pledged $10m if elected:
Liberal party website:
If elected, a Coalition government will provide $10 million to support an upgrade of Brookvale Oval.
Brookvale Oval is the only ground between Sydney Harbour and Gosford that meets NRL standards.
The upgrade will allow for the construction of covered seating for over 4,000 fans as well as provide much-needed community facilities.
The Manly Sea Eagles have played at Brookvale Oval since 1947 and the facilities have not kept pace with the modern expectations of an NRL venue.
The Coalition’s commitment will support plans developed by the Sea Eagles to construct an undercover grandstand on the Eastern side of the ground.
The Coalition supported funding for an upgrade of Brookvale Oval at both the 2007 and 2010 elections. At both elections, Labor refused to support the upgrade.
At this election, only hours after going into the caretaker period, Labor announced support for the upgrade. However, no contract had been signed.
If Labor were serious about upgrading Brookvale Oval, they would have delivered during the past six years and would have signed a contract before the start of the caretaker period.
Only the Coalition can be trusted to deliver the Brookvale Oval upgrade and better sporting facilities for the Northern Beaches.
This upgrade of Brookvale Oval is Stage One of the Sea Eagles’ plan to modernise the ground which includes community and teaching facilities as well as a partnership with its neighbour, St Augustine’s College.
The Coalition’s commitment is part of our Real Solutions Plan to build a stronger Australia and a better future for all Australians.

Both Tony Abbot AND Mike Baird claim to be long time Manly supporters. If we cant get this to happen now, in the next 24 months, then we never will. This is our opportunity. Each of these governments may well be chucked out at their next respective elections.
We have also had interest from the Central Coast Mariners saying they want to play at Fortress Brookvale.

The position of the Warringah Council appears,overall, to be one of opposition. The local residents would be a mixed bag. Also $10mil is nowhere near enough to upgrade it properly. There is no point doing some kind of half-assed job; it has to stand the test of time; it will be all we get for 50 years. Most of us will be long gone when there is another comparable FB upgrade like the one that is needed now.

Pirtek Stadium had big dollars spent on it and now there is talk of ANOTHER $120 mil UPGRADE.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/eels-wanderers-unveil-120m-plan-to-upgrade-pirtek-stadium-20140426-zqzzv.html

We all need to start voting "independent" and turn the local electorates (State, Fed) into swinging, precipitously unpredictable seats !, cause that is the only way this is likely to happen for us. Politicians only really fear 1 thing : Loss of Power.

This is the REAL ISSUE. Player retention, contracts, disharmony is a News Corp smoke screen.
Hook line and sinker all of us.:

Dave Smith and Todd Greenslime also need to have their 'longevity' put on the line, because of the ridiculous anti suburban ground stance they have taken. Short term monetary gain is not in the game's long term interest. WE THE FANS demand better.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Dave Perry said last week that the $10 million was in the bank and they are getting ready to spend it on the appropriate upgrades

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

Well, good, but its Chicken feed.

 

[Fro]

So we should waste our vote on a nothing party/candidate for football related reasons?

Have you heard of Gaza/MH17/the whole big world??

yes the inequality in football funding is wrong but since when has life been fair or even represented as such?

I'd rather have a top rate team playing out of a dated arena than have a crap team in a state of the art stadium............heard of the eels lol

 

[HappilyManly]

Manly Daily July 23, 2014 Page 7

Abbott makes Brookie pledge

PRIME MINISTER SAYS $10M GUARANTEED FOR UPGRADE

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has reaffirmed his commitment to provide $10 million to upgrade Brookvale Oval, in a personal letter to Manly Daily readers.
He wrote that he was “working with (Premier and Manly MP) Mike Baird to secure support from the State Government” for the oval upgrade.
In his letter, Mr Abbott said he was prompted to respond to letters on the Daily’s Conversations page.
Concerns have been raised by locals after NSW Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said the State Government would no longer fund suburban football grounds and would concentrate funding on major upgrades to Allianz and ANZ stadiums.
That would leave grounds such as Brookvale, Leichhardt, Shark Park and Kogarah as little more than training grounds.
Mr Ayres is on leave this week and could not be contacted for comment.
It is believed that between $20 million and $25 million would be required to upgrade Brookvale Oval.
Sea Eagles general manager David Perry said he was meeting Mr Baird this week and was hopeful that Brookvale Oval would be upgraded to tier 2 status.
He said that the club hoped to learn how much money might be available from the State Government to add to the Federal Government’s total.
“We’ll then allocate the money to certain projects we’ve got drawn up,” he said.
“We respect the Sport Minister’s stadium strategy but at Brookvale we have unique circumstances, such as a lack of infrastructure, no train line and a large catchment.

“We believe we can meet the criteria of tier 2 as far as the stadium strategy goes.”

---

Manly Daily July 23, 2014 Page 7
Lobbying group petitioning to keep Sea Eagles in their nest

TWO local former teachers and two former Sea Eagles have formed a Save Brookvale Oval community action group and have called on NSW Sport Minister Stuart Ayres to back Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s stated support for Brookvale Oval.
Harvey Rose, Jim Delaney and Fred and Nick Yakich have formed the group to lobby local state and federal politicians.
“We have a premier, a prime minister, a speaker and two state cabinet ministers,” Mr Delaney said.
“Surely they can fix this for their community.”
Mr Rose, a former mayor of Pittwater, said: “It’s great that Tony Abbott has committed $10 million but, given statements by Stuart Ayres, there is still a long way to go.
“Mr Ayres needs to be told that it’s people and communities that count – not big stadiums if they can only be built at the cost of destroying local traditions.
“The home games at Brookvale are the largest attended regular community event on the northern beaches.”

Mr Rose and Mr Delaney said they would register the community action group Save Brookvale Oval and undertake a full campaign to help ensure Brookvale Oval remained the Sea Eagles’ home ground.

---

Manly Daily July 24, 2014 Page 7
Sea Eagles hope to land Brookie deal at Baird talks

THE Sea Eagles hope talks with Premier Mike Baird tomorrow afternoon will cement their long-term future at Brookvale Oval.
The meeting comes after Sports Minister Stuart Ayres indicated the State Government would direct money away from suburban ovals and towards upgrades of stadiums, such as Allianz and ANZ.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised $10 million towards upgrading Brookvale Oval, but it is believed between $20 million and $25 million would be needed to revamp it.
“The Sea Eagles are working hard to bring forward a proposal that’s not only affordable and looks after fans but also expands the use of Brookvale Oval,” Mr Baird said this week. “I look forward to seeing the final details of the proposal.
“The preliminary details I’ve seen suggest there is a viable, long-term solution for Brookvale.”
Sea Eagles co-patron Kerry Sibraa said the club would be presenting a number of options to the Premier, “depending on what sort of funding is available”.
“We’re hopeful of a good outcome but there are no promises,” he said.
“I think the Premier is well aware of the challenges we face regarding our geography and the need for undercover seating.
“We understand where the Sports Minister is coming from but our problem is where do we go if we have to change? It’s so hard for our fans to travel.We want to stay at Brookvale forever but we need a lot more undercover seating.”
A spokeswoman for Mr Ayres said the minister was on leave and unlikely to attend tomorrow’s meeting.

 

[The Who]

Sounds promising. We should keep the faith for the time being and see if something happens.
On another note, it's good to read that Nick and Fred Yakich are still representing the mighty Sea Eagles. As a kid I watched from the Brookie Hill the two flying wingers, who would bring the crowds to their feet whenever they touched the ball.

 

[CussCuss]

And watch them try to get rid of the hill....

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

And watch them try to get rid of the hill....

You mean the hillock ? The Moundette ? that ant hill patch that's a shadow of its former pre 1994 glory ? :huh:
No, it can go as well, or if they wanna keep a portion of it, it should have 5 mtrs added to the top of it, and the incline increase by 30 degrees . . . .

 

[Ralphie]

Seriously, this subject has been done to death. We got the $10 million from Abbott and we are waiting to hear from Mike Baird, whose Sports Minister recently said they weren't going to support suburban grounds any longer.

Unless you are proposing something tangible to change the State Governments mind on that, then this subject is now done!

 

[mickqld]

Harvey Rose great stuff. My old English teacher from Killarney heights high. Well done old mate. Was a great teacher too.

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

LOL.i had Harvey, Social Studies Manly Boys High 1972. Big ginger beard. He may have been an influence lol.

 

[Peter C]

I heard Ben Fordham on 2GB interview Mike Baird the other day and it sounded a lot more promising.
What is crucial is that if the ground was to be used by multiple tenants then that greatly enhances the chances for an upgrade.
It's available on podcast.

 

[Mals]

I heard Ben Fordham on 2GB interview Mike Baird the other day and it sounded a lot more promising.
What is crucial is that if the ground was to be used by multiple tenants then that greatly enhances the chances for an upgrade.
It's available on podcast.

Yep as well as 10 MWSE games, North Harbour Rays are a new tennant (4 games minimum) & the Central Coast Mariners will play a game there as well. That's 15 competition games per year. Throw in trial games, school games, local League games, the oval is used a lot. It is indeed a community asset that deserves an upgrade. Compare this to WIN Wollongong, Kogarah Oval, Leichhardt Oval & Campbelltown stadium which all get used 4 times per year for NRL.

 

[The Wheel]

Ok announcement please mr premier

 

[ALinda]

Ok announcement please mr premier

Yes, we're waiting with bated breath as to the outcome of this afternoon's meeting.