1) What are the Dragons’ reasons for not playing home games at Kogarah’s OKI Jubilee Stadium in 2008?
The Dragons’ reasons are twofold:
- A financial benefit that has been offered by Telstra Stadium, reportedly $800,000 for six matches.
- The proposed redevelopment works that are yet to commence at Kogarah.
2) Will the financial benefit received from Telstra Stadium be donated to the OKI Jubilee Stadium Redevelopment Fund?
No, these funds will be used by the Dragons, not OKI Jubilee Stadium.
3) Why hasn’t construction commenced at OKI Jubilee Stadium?
An approximate $14 million upgrade has been planned for OKI Jubilee Stadium. The Dragons have secured $7 million of redevelopment funding but are still attempting to acquire the remaining $7 million. The Dragons would like the upgrade done in one stage so it is more cost-effective.
4) Does R2K support the upgrade being performed in one stage?
Yes, R2K supports this approach as it will be more cost-effective and will allow the redevelopment funding to be best utilised.
5) Why were the OKI Jubilee Stadium matches scheduled for the first part of 2007?
These matches were scheduled in early 2007 so construction could commence in early July 2007.
6)When will construction commence at OKI Jubilee Stadium?
No date has been set and there will be no construction until the Dragons resolve the funding issue. However, according to the St.George Leader, Peter Doust said the Dragons would begin building works next year, regardless of whether or not extra funding was approved.
7)So in retrospect was there any reason to stage the Kogarah matches early in 2007?
No, in retrospect, there was no reason. It was a strategy that was logical with a $7 million upgrade based on the funding received, but not with a $14 million upgrade when the Dragons were not close to garnering the additional funding.
8)Why does R2K think the Homebush move is incorrect?
The Dragons have delayed the OKI Jubilee Stadium upgrade indefinitely. On this basis, there is no reason why NRL matches couldn’t be played at OKI Jubilee Stadium in 2008. The Kogarah matches could have been scheduled in a similar manner to 2007, thus allowing the Dragons extra time to garner additional Governmental funding and ensuring that the St.George District hosted elite rugby league matches in 2008. By frontloading the matches at Kogarah in 2008, the upgrade could commence at a time that would allow for its completion so six matches could be played at OKI Jubilee Stadium in 2009.
9)What elements of the decision could have been handled more appropriately?
Four key issues come to mind:
- Redevelopment planning.
- Communication with stakeholders.
- Media
- Policy with OKI Jubilee Stadium season ticketholders.
10)What role did Kogarah Council play in this decision?
Kogarah Council played no role in this decision and the Homebush move was published in the media before Kogarah Council received notification of the Dragons’ decision.
11)Where can I find the Dragons’ press release on this decision?
Click here for the Dragons' press release
12)Where can I find R2K’s press release on this decision?
Click here for the R2K press release
13)Where can I locate some of the media articles that have been published in relation to this decision?
These can be located below:
14)In R2K’s opinion, what are the long-term implications of the 2008 Homebush decision?
Moving matches away from OKI Jubilee Stadium creates a dangerous precedent for rugby league in the St.George region. There is no guarantee that all six home games will be played at OKI Jubilee Stadium in 2009 and no long-term guarantee for OKI Jubilee Stadium.
15)If I don’t renew my Kogarah season ticket at Homebush in 2008, do I still maintain my existing seat at OKI Jubilee Stadium in 2009?
No, Kogarah season ticket holders will lose their existing OKI Jubilee Stadium seat if they do not purchase a Homebush season ticket in 2008.
16)What is R2K’s view on the Kogarah/Homebush renewal issue?
R2K is against the move to Telstra Stadium in the first place. However, since Kogarah home games are being transferred to Homebush in 2008, R2K believes that every effort should be made to accommodate Kogarah season ticket holders in 2009.
17)Is the State Government at fault on this issue?
No, the State Government promised $7 million and has paid $7 million for the ongoing upgrade of OKI Jubilee Stadium.
18)In relation to the upgrade, wouldn’t it be better just to knock OKI Jubilee Stadium down completely and commence a 30,000 capacity stadium at Kogarah from scratch?
This is not a viable option and funding would be just one major obstacle. The current capacity of OKI Jubilee Stadium is 20,541 and the next upgrade will increase capacity.
A lot of funding, Council consents and hard work has gone towards getting OKI Jubilee Stadium where it is today. It would be ludicrous to destroy the existing facilities in the hope that we may be able to build a 30,000 capacity stadium from scratch.
19)Where is the 2008 ANZAC Day match being played?
The 2008 ANZAC Day match will be played at Telstra Stadium in Homebush.
20)Wasn’t the ANZAC Day match meant to be played at the Sydney Football Stadium so the Returned Servicemen and Servicewomen could easily attend the match following the ANZAC Day Parade?
Yes, this was part of the justification for the match not being played at Kogarah when it was the Dragons’ turn to host the annual match.
21)Is it true that the St.George Leagues Club has cut funding to the Dragons?
The grant from the St.George Leagues Club to the Dragons has reduced from $4.5 million to $2.5 million per annum. This represents a 44% cut.
22)Why did the St.George Leagues Club make the 44% reduction?
The St.George Leagues Club is yet to issue a press release on this matter. The decision was first reported very briefly on Channel Nine and was confirmed by the Sydney Morning Herald the following day.
R2K believes the 44% cut is excessive and more information can be located here:
R2K article on grant reduction
23)Who are my St.George Board members?
St.George Leagues:
Peter Ernest Black - 2008
James Alexander Farmer - 2008
James Frederick Grant - 2008
Brian Stuart Johnston - 2009
Harvey Warren Lockwood - 2009 (Chairman)
Ralph Gordon Piggott - 2009
Peter Lawrence Doust - 2010 (Deputy Chairman)
Bruce William Spaul - 2010
Craig Stephen Young - 2010
* Dates are when they are up for re-election.
St.George Football:
Peter Ernest Black (Chairman)
James Frederick Grant
Brian Stuart Johnston
Harvey Warren Lockwood
Ralph Gordon Piggott
Peter Lawrence Doust (Deputy Chairman)
Bruce William Spaul
Craig Stephen Young
St.George JV Board Members
Harvey Warren Lockwood (Chairman)
Peter Ernest Black
Peter Lawrence Doust
Brian Stuart Johnston (since March 2005, previously Danny Robinson)
24)So which Board members are up for re-election next year?
Peter Ernest Black
James Alexander Farmer
James Frederick Grant
25)How can I support R2K’s ongoing campaign to protect the future of OKI Jubilee Stadium?
- Attend R2K's Jubilee Stadium Support Night on October 27
Date: Saturday, October 27.
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Kogarah Inn Hotel (Upstairs Bar), 70 Railway Parade, Kogarah.
- Vote for R2K in the March 2008 St.George Leagues Club election. Further details will be publicised when the election dates are announced, but you must be a full Leagues Club member to vote.
- Join the R2K mailing list so that we can keep you informed of upcoming R2K events. This is not a discussion list, just announcements only.
- Make a donation to the R2K bank account
Bank - St.George Bank Ltd
BSB - 112 879
Account Number - 152 751 946
- Advise your friends and family members of our campaign and encourage them to get involved.
- Send R2K an e-mail of support, so we know who we can count on!
- Please put forward any suggestions you might have that will help the Dragons remain at Kogarah’s Oki Jubilee Stadium and to assist R2K's campaign to gain representation on the St.George Leagues Club Board.
- Regularly check this website for all the latest R2K information.
- Send e-mails to the below newspapers to inform them that you are unhappy with the Homebush decision:
St.George Leader - amartinez@mail.fairfax.com.au
Illawarra Mercury - letters@illawarramercury.com.au
Daily Telegraph - news@dailytelegraph.com.au