UPDATE 14 November 2001: CEO Peter Doust has confirmed that the 2002 home games will be played out of WIN Stadium (7 games) and the Sydney Football Stadium (5 games). Saints will be sharing the SFS with the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. UPDATE 05 November 2001: Cr Peter Bryant of Rockdale Council has informed interested parties that Cahill Park is not a suitable location for the proposed St George Stadium. This latest news places re-newed pressure on St George Leagues Club to reconsider Kogarah Jubilee Oval as an option for a St George Home Ground. UPDATE 27 October 2001: An article in today's Sydney Telegraph reports that the Barton Park project has been scrapped. "St George Illawarra plan to build a $60m stadium on the banks of the Cooks River and want to play their home games there from 2003" Further investigation revealed that the Soccer club and Leagues Club are in fact referring to a new project at nearby Cahill Park. Peter Doust is quoted as saying it is an exciting option and the board will be meeting next week to discuss the venue. Rumours that the Dragons may be playing some games out of Kogarah in 2002 have taken a nose dive with the news that Saints will be playing at Stadium Australia and / or Sydney Football Stadium in 2002. UPDATE 3 August 2001: Last night on 2GB, Dragons CEO, Peter Doust announced that plans were now underway to build the new Stadium complex at Barton Park, Rockdale. If all goes to plan, the Dragons will have a home ground in St George in time for season 2005. These words were re-iterated in todays SMH: ....the news came as St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust outlined a proposed return to southern Sydney, with plans for the redevelopment of Barton Park already well under way. St George soccer club is planning to construct a 20,000-seat stadium in the Technology Park precinct, near Sydney airport. "If there was a ground there that met the NRL criteria, we'd definitely play there," Doust said. "At the end of the day a lot of people yearn for a local presence and the signs are looking good." Plans have been drawn up and are awaiting development approval. Work on the ground is expected to take 18 months. "If it happens, we've been told it would be ready for the 2005 season," Doust said. A light at the end of the tunnel? UPDATE 22 July 2001: Sunday Telegraph, 22 July 2001: An article by Adam Hawse. THE return of South Sydney to the NRL is set to force St George Illawarra out of the Sydney Football Stadium. With the Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters to use the SFS as their home ground in 2002, the Dragons are looking at alternative venues for their Sydney based matches. Among the options are the adjacent Sydney Cricket Ground, Stadium Australia and the Sydney Showground. A decision will be made by the end of August. "Souths arriving back has complicated things for us," Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said today. "We're just contemplating what other options there are." The Dragons are not bound to a lease next year, allowing them to change venues if they wish. Ultimately, the joint venture wants to play it's Sydney home games at the proposed Barton Park, a 20,000 seat stadium planned for Rockdale. A return to their old home ground, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, is not an option. Doust also ruled out the club playing all it's home games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. "We've made a commitment to play in Sydney and we believe it actually strengthens our organisation by playing two markets," he said. "Playing all games at WIN is not an option."
The Current Proposal (info from Cr Peter Bryant of Rockdale Council): To build 7 days a week "multi-sport and multi-recreation" facility for use by the whole the whole community with the football ground beong mainly used by StGeorge Soccer Club and the StGeorge Illawarra Dragons. The cost of the facility will be in the order of $60 million and the Dragons will lease it but not contribute to the capital cost and the innovators in the proposal are St George Soccer. The Club's position (info from Mr Peter Doust, CEO Dragons): We are supporting the St George Soccer Club in their endeavours. I believe progress has been solid, however the Soccer Club President, Mr Bariamos has asked me to be confidential at this point. As soon as I can say more I will. Yours sincerely Peter Doust Chief Executive Officer St George Illawarra Dragons The Positives: 1.) We have the support of key personnel in management. 2.) The fans support this. Not only St George AND Illawarra supporters but also a great many Rugby League supporters across the country. 3.) Local business supports the proposal The Negatives: 1.) $60 MIL worth. A huge undertaking and we're waiting for detail as to how this can be funded 2.) The Chinese Farm with old farm house. Possible heritage listing. No one wants to see this historic house bulldozed and it may have to be incorporated into the proposed complex. Meetings: There are meetings scheduled for mid - August which involve club officials and supporters. There are also other meetings taking place with the council. Expect additional updates following these meetings. The Dragons enjoyed their greatest years when they had home ground stability at Kogarah Oval. The move out of Kogarah led to years of failure but once back at Kogarah, the team once again found themselves contesting Grand Finals. It now appears unlikely that we can ever have a Dragons team at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, however, we have real chance to re-claim a home ground advantage in the St George district at Barton Park.... The Barton Park Supporters: Mr Peter Doust, CEO St George Leagues Club wants the proposal to go ahead and is currently in negotiation with other interested parties. Email: pdoust@dragons.com.au Fax: (Sydney) 02 9556 1175 Postal address: c/- StGeorge Leagues Club. 124 Princes Highway Kogarah NSW 2217 Australia. Councillor Peter Bryant of Rockdale Council is a keen Dragons supporter and on the commitee which is looking into the proposal. Email: rcc@rockdale.nsw.gov.au Rt Hon Cherie Burton MP is the local state member for Kogarah and a Dragons supporter. She is also a supporter of the proposal. Email: zpaster@parliament.nsw.gov.au An email, fax or letter of thanks indicating that you support the proposed Barton Park community project at Rockdale will speak volumes. Be sure to keep your emails, letters or faxes positive, polite and to the point.
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