By Murray Trembath
12 May, 2005
St.George Illawarra Dragons hope to have new floodlights operating at
Kogarah Oval in time for their last two home games this season following an $8 million handout in this week's budget.
The funding, to be delivered in three instalments during the next three years, will also spur on a bid by Cronulla Sharks for federal funding to improve facilities at Toyota Park.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said he was very pleased that the
funding, promised by Prime Minister John Howard at the last election, had been "locked in".
A tender would be let quickly for the floodlights and work would be undertaken this season on new turnstiles at the northern end of the ground. Seating improvements had been deferred till the end of the season to avoid an impact on home games.
Barton MP Robert McClelland welcomed the funding, adding that Labor had made a similar election commitment.
"The upgrade will enable more community events to take place at the ground and will enable St.George Leagues Club to develop fitness education and a youth mentoring program, proposed in the funding
application," he said.
Sharks president Barry Pierce said he did not begrudge the Dragons their good fortune, and hoped "down the track we will also be successful".
Cook MP Bruce Baird said he and Hughes MP Danna Dale would help the
Sharks present a formal case to Mr Howard and Mr Costello within the
next 12 months.
"Peter Costello is actually the club's number two ticketholder – [but] doesn't get to as many games as he would like," Mr Baird said.