R2K condemns Dragons' switch from Kogarah
R2K would like to express its extreme disappointment with St.George-Illawarra’s decision to relocate OKI Jubilee Stadium’s five NRL matches to Telstra Stadium in 2008.
Background:
In July 2006, the Premier of NSW Morris Iemma announced an additional $7 million grant for Jubilee Stadium.
Following receipt of the NSW State Government funding, the Dragons submitted a Jubilee Masterplan with proposed ground enhancements totaling over $14 million. These works were approved by Kogarah Council.
The Dragons’ Kogarah home games were scheduled early this season to allow construction to commence following the completion of the round 16 match against Manly-Warringah on 1 July.
On 27 August, R2K contacted Dragons’ CEO Peter Doust to express concern about the delay of the upgrade and to see why the OKI Jubilee Steering Committee hadn’t been able to utilise the last eight weeks to ensure the next stage of the Jubilee upgrade was completed in a timely manner.
On 7 September, R2K’s Lachlan McLean was invited to a meeting with Mr.Doust to discuss these issues at length. Despite the complex issues involved, R2K still believed that matches could be hosted at Kogarah in 2008 and that there would be further consultation before any decision was announced.
Comment:
While R2K is aware that the Dragons are in the process of trying to gain additional State Government funding to complete the full scope of the proposed works, the decision to abandon Kogarah in 2008 cannot be tolerated.
The upgrade works are yet to commence and while the R2K committee respects that it would be more cost effective for the complete scope of works to take place at the one time, there is no sound reason why 5 matches couldn’t have been staged at Kogarah in 2008.
At this stage, the Dragons are under no obligation to commence the next stage of the Jubilee upgrade and it doesn’t appear that the next stage of the upgrade will commence until there is a resolution in regards to the additional State Government funding.
Like the news concerning the reduction of the St.George Leagues Club grant to the Dragons, it is disappointing to hear the news first from the mainstream media rather than the Club itself.
R2K condemns the Dragons’ decision and believes that the Dragons will ultimately regret the decision. It is a decision that will alienate all supporters, sponsors and the entire St.George community in rugby leagues' Centenary year.
One thing is certain - R2K won't go away!
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