St. George & Sutherland Shire Leader
March 6th, 1968
St. George Rugby League fans will have to wait until at least the 1969 season before they can enjoy the comforts of a ‘new look’ Jubilee Oval.
The Department Of Lands has caused a further delay by asking for a fuller account of the proposal.
Kogarah Council last year approved in principle a $500,000 plan to transform Jubilee Oval into the State’s most modern sporting stadium.
The plan was then sent to the Department Of Lands for its approval.
Although no agreement had been reached between Kogarah Council and St.George Leagues Club, extensive alterations to the oval were expected to begin soon.
The plan includes three grandstands to seat 18,000 spectators and additional seating for 7,000 people on what is now the hill area.
The St.George Leagues Club will finance the project in return for a 50 year lease of the oval.
The scheme was suggested originally by the Leagues Club in 1966, when it asked Kogarah Council to investigate possible improvement of spectator facilities.
The council submitted to the club a plan for improvements which would cost $72,000. But the Club Directors decided the plan allowed for too much standing room.
The Club engaged a firm of consulting engineers to design an arena with more seating. The engineers were told to provide facilities of a ‘very high standard.’
It planned three grandstands - one on either side of the field and the other at the Jubilee Oval end. The stands on the Park Street and Jubilee Avenue side were to be covered.
The engineers recommended that the stands be built of pre-stressed concrete for minimum maintenance and rapid construction.
The council’s Chief Engineer (Mr.J.W.Lindsay) said it was natural that parking problems would increase with the improved facilities offered at the oval.
“However, it must be remembered that the parking facilities of the St.George Leagues Club, which adjoin the area, are now being used when home matches are being played,” he said.
“As these facilities are increased so will the availability of car parking be increased.”
Mr.Lindsay said there would be only a minimum affect on the adjoining playing area.
“The actual playing area itself would not be affected, only the outskirts.”
Mr.Lindsay said the council was waiting on the Lands Department. However, there appeared little likelihood of the ground being ready before the 1969 season.”
The Kogarah Ratepayers and Residents Association at its recent annual meeting decided to oppose the Leagues Club move to gain a 50-year lease on the ground.
The association will write a protest to the Minister for Lands (Mr.Lewis) stating that the oval belongs to the ratepayers.
The president of the association (Mr.K.Cavanough) said the matter had been brought before the notice of Mr.Lewis and the Minister form Local Government (Mr.Morton) not only by his association but by the Blakehurst High School P & C Association, the Parks and Playgrounds Movement and other organisations and individuals.
Mr.Cavanough said the Parks and Playgrounds Movement had reported at its annual meeting on certain matters regarding Jubilee Oval and the proposed 50-year lease by the Leagues Club.
The report stated:
“This is one of the most outrageous attempts to misuse parkland that has ever come to the notice of this movement. How alderman could approve of it is beyond understanding.”
“The oval has been developed at heavy expense as a public playing field. It is public land belonging to the people, and no one should have the power to dispose of it in this manner. It has been placed in the hands of the council to be held as a sacred trust for care and development for the enjoyment of the general public.”
“To tie it up to one club on a 50-year lease would be a breach of trust that should not be tolerated. It is amazing that a council should even entertain an application such as this. Kogarah Council seems to have a peculiar notion of its duty as a trustee.”