By Mark Nolan
St. George Leader
May 6th, 1999
Kogarah Oval - home of the St. George Dragons for nearly 50 years - will be abandoned because it is too small to accommodate a proposed $30 million stadium complex to meet National Rugby League requirements for playing venues.
In a joint statement with Kogarah Council, the St. George Rugby League Football Club admitted that the scale of the proposed 20,000 seat stadium complex would exceed the size of Kogarah Oval and impact on residents.
The plan to upgrade Kogarah Oval was aborted after a meeting of stakeholders at the St. George Leagues Club on Tuesday.
It is understood that the club would probably maintain its lease on the ground for training purposes and junior games.
Kogarah Council could also market the oval for use by schools and other sporting codes. Kogarah, Hurstville and Rockdale councils and the football club have formed a working party to investigate potential sites to “allow the Dragons to retain some games” in St. George.
Funding to build a new facility is in doubt with several approaches to State and Federal governments and added pressure on the public purse from construction of Olympic facilities.
The football club will also canvass options for a Sydney based home ground out of St.George including the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia at Homebush Bay.
“We are obviously disappointed that Kogarah Oval is inadequate for the Dragons’ home ground to bring us in line with the NRL criteria relating to home game venues,” St. George-Illawarra Chairman Doug McClelland said.
“We are sensitive to the concerns of supporters who have been attending home games at Kogarah for many years and appreciate there are special nostalgic memories from the great games at the ground,” he said.
“However, we must be realistic and accept that Kogarah Oval cannot be upgraded to the necessary standard to compete in the elite NRL competition. It is essential that we have a home ground that will cater for a minimum crowd of 20,000 and such a development is not possible at Kogarah Oval.”
The Mayor of Kogarah, Councillor Graeme Staas, admitted that it would be difficult to find the Dragons a new home in St.George.
“Funding for such a facility and costs associated with the maintenance of an elite stadium are just two issues that will be difficult to overcome,” Cr Staas said.
“The St. George Dragons have a proud history in this area and we would like them to stay.”
The St.George Dragons played their first game at Kogarah Oval against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on April 22, 1950 in front of 12,500 people.
The Dragons relocated to the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1986 and Belmore in 1988 before returning to Kogarah Oval in 1989.”