North Sydney Bears: Iconic North Sydney oval misses out on $11m
The iconic North Sydney Oval has missed out on $11m worth of funding following the election of the Minns government in a move described as a “kick in the guts” for the
aspiring Bears.
The funding - promised by former Perrottet government to improve seating - will not be delivered. The Minns government did not commit to the upgrade, despite local candidate Godfrey Santer declaring he was supportive of the funding, “for sure”.
Liberal MP Matt Kean said: “You’d hate to think that Chris Minns is cutting this funding as a Bulldogs fan.”
The
former Coalition Government pledged upgrade funding in February to help in the Bears’ push to become the NRL’s expanded 18th franchise while also supporting another regular tenant at the venue, the Australian women’s cricket side. But the Minns Government, who won power in March, never supported the upgrade.
“By Chris Minns ripping away this funding, it is just another kick in the guts for the Bears,” Mr Kean said. “Instead of
supporting the Broncos, which he did in the grand final, he should get behind a foundation club and help us all bring back the Bears. It was disappointing that the Minns Labor Government has recently placed another barrier in the way of a Bears return to the NRL by ripping away funding to upgrade North Sydney Oval.”
The funding package was to improve seating - with individual seats to replace existing bench seating - while also revamping North Sydney Oval’s playing surface, food and beverage outlets, and dressing rooms for players and officials.
“NSW Labor never committed funding to North Sydney Oval, it was an election commitment by the former government,” said a spokesman for the Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper.
“We are committed to delivering grassroots sporting infrastructure to communities that desperately need facilities. We are a government with a clear focus – managing our finances responsibly so we can provide support when you need it most and improve the essential services that we all rely on, now and into the future.”
In a speech to the NSW Parliament on Wednesday night, Kean called for the Bears to be returned to the NRL. The Bears, if returned, won’t be based at North Sydney Oval but plan to play two to three matches a season at their spiritual home ground.
“The once thriving rugby league nursery of northern Sydney has been largely abandoned by those running the game and has been a gift to other sporting codes that have stolen the heartland,” Kean told Parliament. “The North Sydney Bears club has a proud history. They competed for 91 seasons in Australia’s premier rugby league competition, and made an enormous contribution to the game."
“They simply need to be back in the NRL. It will energise a huge fan base, mobilise junior talent across northern Sydney and the Central Coast, bring in significant sponsorship and take the NRL to the next level. The Bears have faced many barriers over the years, yet they are still here and will not go away."
“You’d hate to think that Chris Minns is cutting this funding as a Bulldogs fan, not as the Premier who should support a foundation club returning to their rightful position. It’s time for the Bears to be restored to their rightful place in the NRL. It’s good for North Sydney fans, it’s good for rugby league fans, and it’s good for the game itself."
“It’s time to bring back the bears and I predict their return will break the games longest premiership drought by 2030.”
The $11m was promised to ensure North Sydney Oval remains an elite sporting venue.
Kean has previously said: “I love coming down to North Sydney Oval to watch our local sporting teams but to have the Aussie female cricket team here on a regular basis will be even more special.
“It’s one of our great sporting grounds and home of the beloved North Sydney Bears.”
