WIN @ Gong - Western Stand Announcement

[blackberryman]

:crazy:

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...-28m-win-grandstand-plan/1651305.aspx?src=rss

 

[blackberryman]

28.9 Million from Scratch! signed sealed delivered... so i'm told...


:crazy::crazy::crazy::lol:

 

[Goddo]

Fantastic news

 

[Timmah]

Nathan Rees to unveil $28m WIN grandstand plan


MEGAN LEVY
16/10/2009 10:14:00 AM

NSW Premier Nathan Rees will announce $28 million for the redevelopment of WIN Stadium's western grandstand this morning, the Mercury can reveal.
The Premier will be joined by St George Illawarra Dragons coach Wayne Bennett when he makes the announcement in Wollongong at 11am today.
The new grandstand option has been favourably received by the Government after a Treasury review rejected a grander $47 million plan, which included a hotel and walkway to the Steelers Club, earlier this year.
Today's announcement means it is likely the grandstand will be completed in less than two years and an official opening within the context of a March 2011 election campaign.
The funding announcement follows a long community fight for the replacement of the dilapidated grandstand, a campaign that was taken up by Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell and Wollongong MP Noreen Hay.
Plans are believed to include grandstand seating for 6000 people and new corporate facilities, which will be offered for hire outside the rugby league season.
Last month, Wollongong Sportsground Trust chairman Chris Christodoulou said the Government needed to move quickly on making a decision so the trust could meet "a whole lot of deadlines".
"The trust would ideally like to see a decision on this before Christmas in order to allow the go-ahead of the seven NRL games of the 2010 season as part of the agreement with the St George Illawarra Dragons," Mr Christodoulou said. "We have been in consultation with the Dragons, but if a decision to go ahead is made after Christmas the trust can't plan with any certainty."




From the above link.

 

[Godz Illa]

With thanks to the great Cheesemaker..


http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/Newsr...6_NEW_Western_grandstand_for_WIN_stadium.html

New Western Grandstand for WIN Stadium

16 October 2009

Premier Nathan Rees today visited Wollongong’s WIN Stadium to announce a $28.9 million commitment to build a brand new Western Grandstand.

The Premier was joined by local MPs David Campbell and Noreen Hay, Sports Minister Kevin Greene, St George-Illawarra Dragons coach Wayne Bennet and CEO Peter Doust.

Mr Rees said that the Government’s investment in WIN Stadium would generate a wide range of benefits for the local economy.

“This is a fantastic boost to the Illawarra’s economy and will deliver an additional 640 direct and indirect full time jobs,” Mr Rees said.

“This massive investment will bring WIN Stadium up to a world-class standard and allow Wollongong to compete for a new range of national and international sporting and entertainment events.”

The 50 year old Grandstand will be replaced by a new two tiered stand with 6,170 new covered seats and increasing capacity at the ground by 3,758 to 23,150.

Mr Rees said that the old grandstand had clearly reached the end of its life.

“The new stand means significantly improved facilities for footy fans and players, as well as those who’ll be flocking to hire the stadium to stage big events,” Mr Rees said.

Wollongong MP Noreen Hay welcomed the investment in WIN Stadium and the local economy.

“This investment has been needed here for some time and I’m pleased to see the Premier has listened and taken action,” Ms Hay said.

“WIN Stadium will now become an international concert and entertainment facility.

“Events like Australia’s bid for the Soccer World cup as well as opportunities across retail, corporate hospitality and function and conferencing programs will all open up to us.”

The project is expected to take 3 years to complete, and will also see small refurbishment works on the Southern Stand.

Dragons CEO Peter Doust said the announcement to upgrade the Western Grandstand at WIN Stadium is great news and will go a long way to enhancing our confidence in the long-term future of the Dragons in the region.

“The Dragons have always been committed to playing rugby league in Wollongong, it is a key element in our overall strategic plan,” he said.

 

[blackberryman]

“The Dragons have always been committed to playing rugby league in Wollongong, it is a key element in our overall strategic plan,” he said.

Sends a tingle up my spine

We are well on our way to Power House glory.

 

[Bath's Babes]

Made my day

 

[thommo4pm]

This is good news.
A stadium with 23,000 + for us is very nice....can't complain about that.

 

[big pat]

what about councils plans to put in parking meters in the cbd.

 

[Godz Illa]

 

[Godz Illa]

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...m-to-get-289m-western-grandstand/1651469.aspx

New article on the Mercury site, with quotes from Bennett:

St George Illawarra Dragons coach Wayne Bennett, who joined Mr Rees for today's announcement, said Wollongong was a great sporting town that deserved top-class facilities.
"The grandstand certainly is in need of repair and replacement. I'm obviously elated, being the coach here and living in this area for the last 12 months ... that the Government sees it fit to put the money into the project to make it a facility that the community deserves," he said.
"It's important for the fans, they're the ones that pay to come here. "It also shows St George's commitment to come here as well. This is just another step along the way to ensuring that St George Illawarra is here for the long term."

 

[saintzrule]

two great home grounds! Poor old berries and bunnies have none between them!

 

[j0nesy]

Great news, about time. The Western stand was a great place to watch rugby league from, but was becoming just plain dangerous.

 

[Bath's Babes]

two great home grounds! Poor old berries and bunnies have none between them!

 

[watatank]

Great news for Wollongong and the long term future of the NRL in the region

what about councils plans to put in parking meters in the cbd.

The council are going to make a killing on event night if they put parking meters around the city.

 

[Bluebags1908]

After all the flack the Dragons copped for paying a home final at 18,000 capacity Kogarah this year, does this mean that with the new grandstand and increase in capacity to 23,000 for Wollongong, that if the Dragons get a home final again they can by-pass a repeat of the Phil Rothfield Daily Telegraph hate campaign and just play their next home semi in Wollongong?

 

[Bath's Babes]

i sure hope so

 

[Stagger Lee]

After all the flack the Dragons copped for paying a home final at 18,000 capacity Kogarah this year, does this mean that with the new grandstand and increase in capacity to 23,000 for Wollongong, that if the Dragons get a home final again they can by-pass a repeat of the Phil Rothfield Daily Telegraph hate campaign and just play their next home semi in Wollongong?

I hope so too - this is great news for the old steeler fans because it really cements the partnership with St George. Unlike the Wests takeover by Balmain which has been a disgrace and the shambles that the Manly - Norths merger became.