By Paul Ellercamp
St. George & Sutherland Shire Leader
August 8th 2002
Kogarah Council may be asked to find up to $350,000 to support the St.George-Illawarra Dragons’ return to Jubilee Oval next season, if the State Government provides a grant to support the oval’s upgrade.
The Dragons have been encouraged by the state to apply for a grant by the Regional Sports Facility Program, which allocates money on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
Applications for the next round of grants were called yesterday, They close on September 11, with allocations to be announced in October or November.
In practice, it will be the council that applies for the grant, as owner of the ground.
With the club looking at applying for up to $350,000, this means the state will be looking to the council to match that amount.
It also puts a budget for the ground upgrade at about $700,000, including state and council contributions.
Kogarah Council two weeks ago approved a $100,000 program, shared with the club, for first stage maintenance.
Mayor Jim Taylor said he was looking at options for raising the money involving “outside” sources.
He said that council did not have the funds itself, and there was “no way” they would borrow to provide them.
Cr Taylor has written to the Premier, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, the State Opposition and local MPs seeking support for the push to get the Dragons back to Kogarah.
All local MPs are supportive of the push. Minister for Sport and Recreation Morris Iemma, a local and a Dragon supporter, had met with the club and encouraged the grant application, said Dragons chief executive Peter Doust.
The “Dragon ‘em back to Kogarah” push is expected to be raised at an unusual joint meeting of the three St.George councils - Kogarah, Rockdale and Hurstville - being held on Tuesday night.
It may be that some method of sharing the load will be canvassed.
The Dragons are also looking at establishing a scheme to allow supporters to contribute to the cost of upgrading Jubilee Oval, Mr Doust said.
The actual size and nature of the upgrade program will not be known until the NRL conducts an inspection of the ground with the club, perhaps next week.