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 Representatives
from Kogarah Council and St.George DRLFC's
Robert Stone gave local residents an exemplary
presentation on the continued upgrade of Oki
Jubilee Stadium.
Kogarah
Mayor Michael Platt commenced the evening
with a general overview of the upgrade and
highlighted his Council's commitment to keeping
residents informed.
Project
Manager Frank Bates then provided residents
with specific details about the flood lighting,
additional seating, the northern turnstile,
surface improvements to the training field
and the gymnasium.
Bates
assured residents that the updated lighting
would be environmentally sensitive in order
to balance the needs of the community and
stadium users. He stressed that the most advanced
lighting will be installed at Jubilee; eliminating
light spill away from neighbouring properties
and keeping the light on the field.
Gary
Sawyer (Council's General Manager) and Stephen
Clements (Council's Director for Development
& Health) also attended the information
session and answered questions relating to
the Development Application process and general
concerns about the development and what may
have occurred in the past. Robert Stone assisted
with this process and tactfully answered an
array of questions on the future of Oki Jubilee
Stadium.
While
1,500 residents were invited to the meeting,
there was an approximate attendance of thirty-five
including R2K representatives Melina Lathouras,
Fay Samuel, Jeanette McLean John Ormsby, Justin
Mining, Greg Perridge and Lachlan McLean.
Although
the community forum wasn't necessarily staged
at themost convenient time, the low attendance
suggests that the upgrade is not as polemical
as some people might suggest.
Despite
this, a handful of residents raised certain
issues and grievances about Oki Jubilee Stadium.
A trio of residents was concerned that the
boundary fence in English Street had been
extended by three metres during the previous
upgrade and was therefore reducing the area
known as Kogarah Park. However, Kogarah Council
believed that the surrounding parkland hadn't
been reduced.
One
of these residents suggested that school children
were not allowed to use the venue, which was
refuted by Stone and the groundsman who highlighted
that six school carnivals had been staged
at the ground over the previous year. Residents
were assured that the conditions of use relating
to the area outside the ground fronting the
Princes Highway would not change and that
public access would not be restricted.
The
subject of parking was raised and it was suggested
that the Dragons would buy extra parking allotments
from Carlton South Public School. However,
as Stage one won't necessarily increase the
capacity of the venue, there will be no additional
impact on the capacity of off-street parking.
The Dragons will continue to encourage supporters
to use the major parking stations at Kogarah
Station and at Kogarah's Derby Street.
Only
one resident expressed concerns regarding
the floodlights. His main concern was the
proposed height of the towers. The resident
was informed that the colour of the light
towers would be customised to blend into the
skyline.
Overall
Kogarah Council and St.George DRLFC staged
a very professional community forum and should
be congratulated for keeping the community
informed outside of the traditional Development
Application process. Councillors Adam Mazzaferro
and Nick Katris also attended the information
session along with Danny Robinson from the
St.George Leagues Club.
While
some residents may be opposed to any event
taking place at Oki Jubilee Stadium, the refurbishment
has widespread support in the Kogarah Municipality,
the greater St.George region and wherever
St.George-Illawarra supporters reside.
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