St. George Leader - 25/02/2003
The Jubilee Oval appeal has received a boost worth "tens of thousands of dollars" from BHP Steel Lysaght to help in the refurbishment of the ground for the Dragons return in May.
The company announced yesterday a donation of "the complete range of steel building materials" for use in construction work.
While the company was not able to quantify the dollar value of the donation, it said it would run to "tens of thousands of dollars".
An appeal source put the value at "around $100,000".
News of the donation comes as concern has been expressed at the apparent lack of enthusiasm from the community to support the appeal.
The Leader reported last week that the community appeal had raised $3,000 of the $1.35 million raised so far.
Most of the funds have come from the State Government ($800,000) and St. George Leagues Club ($400,000), with $140,000 in kind from Kogarah Council, including $73,000 committed for ground maintenance before the appeal was set up.
The appeal co-ordinator, Frank Bates, said the public response was better than the amounts suggested on the council's website, which was "outdated".
The community component now stood at "more than $20,000" he said. At the same time, Rockdale Council may join Kogarah Council in lending support to the campaign.
A motion to be put to Wednesday night's Rockdale Council meeting calls for a donation of $50,000 to be included in the council's coming draft budget.
Former Rockdale mayor Shaoquett Moselmane, who has given notice of the motion, said he expected it would be supported by the council.
Cr Moselmane's motion calls for the donation to be included in Rockdale's draft budget for the 2003-04 financial year.
This would include the donation in the public exhibition of the draft budget, which would give Rockdale residents the chance to have their say on whether Rockdale should contribute to the campaign.
The donation follows a request from Kogarah Council to both Rockdale and Hurstville to each donate $50,000.
Hurstville Council also decided last year to consider a donation in forming its budget.
The BHP Steel Lysaght statement yesterday said it could supply "the
majority of the steel requirements for the project. Lysaght steel framing
systems will be used to construct the amenities block and corporate facilities,
while the walls for these structures will be clad in Lysaght Spandek with
a Colorbond steel metallic
finish," the company said.
"The roofs, gutters and downpipes for the new entry pavilion and
amenities block will also be supplied using products made from
Colorbond steel. Upon completion the final value of the BHP Steel Lysaght
donation will run into tens of thousands of dollars."
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