WARRINGAH Council will finally proceed with the $10 million upgrade of Brookvale Oval but the vote on Tuesday night was not unanimous.
The initial focus of the work will be the Jane Try Stand, including the roof and seating, and the refurbishment of the change rooms, public amenities and food and drink outlets.
The council will pay $4 million towards the upgrade and the State Government will pay $6 million.
Manly Sea Eagles chief executive officer Grant Mayer said he was “over the moon†that the upgrade will proceed.
“To delay the process would have been unnecessary but commonsense has prevailed,†he said.
“It’s a great decision for the community.â€Â
A council spokeswoman said minor works will be completed before the start of the 2009 season, some work that won’t interrupt games will continue during the season and any major work will happen at the end of next season.
Some of the works will require the council to lodge a development application that will be assessed by the Warringah Development Assessment Panel.
Councillor Julie Sutton, who moved that the work proceed, said all of the proposed works “are consistent with the existing Brookvale Park Plan of Managementâ€Â.
“This is housekeeping of a valuable community asset,†she said.
“We need to fix what is a rotting and decaying asset. We’ve got $10 million for this, so let’s use it.â€Â
But councillor Christina Kirsch argued that the community should be consulted before any work is done.
“This is a massive project and we need to make sure we are spending the money properly,†she said.
“The plan of management says the community must be consulted.
“But there is no community consultation in the expenditure of this money.â€Â
But Cr Sutton said the upgrade “is not something that requires community consultation - it needs fixingâ€Â.
“Fixing cracked concrete doesn’t require community consultation,†she said.
The initial focus of the work will be the Jane Try Stand, including the roof and seating, and the refurbishment of the change rooms, public amenities and food and drink outlets.
The council will pay $4 million towards the upgrade and the State Government will pay $6 million.
Manly Sea Eagles chief executive officer Grant Mayer said he was “over the moon†that the upgrade will proceed.
“To delay the process would have been unnecessary but commonsense has prevailed,†he said.
“It’s a great decision for the community.â€Â
A council spokeswoman said minor works will be completed before the start of the 2009 season, some work that won’t interrupt games will continue during the season and any major work will happen at the end of next season.
Some of the works will require the council to lodge a development application that will be assessed by the Warringah Development Assessment Panel.
Councillor Julie Sutton, who moved that the work proceed, said all of the proposed works “are consistent with the existing Brookvale Park Plan of Managementâ€Â.
“This is housekeeping of a valuable community asset,†she said.
“We need to fix what is a rotting and decaying asset. We’ve got $10 million for this, so let’s use it.â€Â
But councillor Christina Kirsch argued that the community should be consulted before any work is done.
“This is a massive project and we need to make sure we are spending the money properly,†she said.
“The plan of management says the community must be consulted.
“But there is no community consultation in the expenditure of this money.â€Â
But Cr Sutton said the upgrade “is not something that requires community consultation - it needs fixingâ€Â.
“Fixing cracked concrete doesn’t require community consultation,†she said.
