By Reagan Murphy
St. George Leader
April 1988
Kogarah Council has approved the controversial development application for the construction of a $3 million grandstand on the western side of Jubilee Oval.
At a rowdy meeting on Monday night, the council took less than two hours to reach a 6-5 verdict, which included the casting vote of the Mayor, Alderman Fred Cavanagh.
About 120 St.George rugby league supporters who filled the front of the gallery interjected repeatedly during the debate, booing and yelling at the five alderman attempting to oppose the motion.
The council met as a committee to consider granting its consent to the erection of a grandstand at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, subject to 12 conditions.
These included height and width reduction, emergency parking, additional public use of Kogarah Park, improved angle parking on the eastern side of Park Street, additional landscaping and graffiti/vandal-resistant exterior materials.
Those supporting the motion were Alderman Cavanagh (Ind), Susan Gainsford (ALP), Ross Green (IND), Jean Devine, Les Jarman (LIB) and Tom Lind (LIB).
Those against were Alderman Peter Burgess (ALP), Frank Baker (Progress), Leonie Bodell (LIB), Laurie Seidl (Progress) and Michael Green (ALP).
Alderman John Tynan (IND) was absent, but it is believed he would have supported the motion.
The Mayor entered the debate twice and brought a rowdy public gallery to order on four occasions.
St.George Rugby League Club secretary, John Fleming who attended the committee meeting, said :
"We were very pleased. It's not up to us to address the council meeting, although some statements were not quiet right. The football club's return to Jubilee Oval was initiated by Kogarah Council and until it goes to its next stage (the May 2 council meeting), we have no commitment to play anywhere else in 1989 but Jubilee"
Mr.Fleming said that it was difficult to make a written commitment regarding investment in a project before Kogarah Council appointed a tenderer. Costs could then be looked at in their right perspective.
He said there was no chance that St.George would not renew its lease in 1991.
The State Government's position remains neutral.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Minister for Sport, recreation, Racing and Tourism, Robert Rowland Smith told the Leader: "It is now up tothe council and the Leagues Club to confirm in writing their commitment. When this has been received the Government will look closely at the proposal."
The former Labor Government promised $1 million to the Leagues Club, half by grant and half on loan at 5 per cent over 12 years. Informed sources are confident the Greiner Government will honour this commitment.
Kogarah Council has already committed itself for $300,000, and it was financial arrangements which dominated the council discussion on Monday night.
The Minister for Natural Resources, Ian Camsley, has the final say on the project once Kogarah Council approves the all-important building application.
Deputy mayor Ald Ross Green (IND) was the main speaker for the motion, and received a standing ovation when he concluded the meeting.
"We have satisfied the objectors' wants with reduced shadow effects, and now it's time to bite the bullet and satisfy the St. George supporters," he said.
"The motion should be approved, if only to put pressure on the Government for its promised favourable consideration to honour the previous commitment."
Labor Alderman Peter Burgess suggested the club use the $1.7 million to buy some new forwards.
"They (the club) left. We didn't ask them to leave and nowthey want a new grandstand," Ald Burgess said, opposing the motion.
After the meeting, the spokesman for the combined residents of Park Street, Pat Ellsmore, said his association feared that ratepayers might be slugged in the event of any fund shortfall.
"Current tenders surely suggest the cost of this grandstand could be much higher than $3 million, and I don't think it's unreasonable for the Leagues Club to suggest a figure to which they would go," Mr Ellsmore said after the meeting.
"There's going to be a gap, and I feel the ratepayers could be asked for more than the $300,000. We are proud of the North ward alderman for putting up such a good fight."