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Ballymore Redevelopment

Karl

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
So, I thought a thread to discuss where it's at, how it's progressing, links to concept plans, what is going to happen there etc would be interesting.

I'll start - I know nussink!

I saw a picture in the Courier Mail once that had a concept plan that looked tres cool, I saw that the local residents aren't happy, that approval has gone through - but I have no real idea what is planned or when the work starts or how long it will all take.

So - who knows stuff? We'll all promise to keep it quiet, it's just amongst friends. Spill.
 
J

Jiggles

Guest
So I take it Ballymore is the only Union asset in the country? Isn't Concord owned by the NSWRU?
 
Jets

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
I think it's a case of there being no money to pay for it. It would also need to bring in quite a bit of cash to be maintained. It would make Brisbane a great place to tour if visiting teams could stay on site and have access to the facilities. You would think that the ARU might consider the Camp Wallaby idea again. It seemed to have quite a bit of success in the past, but could just be a coincidence.
 
p.Tah

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
After Tuesday's disappointment and the other loses to teams in wet/cold conditions (Ireland RWC, Scotland in Edinburg, Samoa In Sydney...) Camp Wallaby needs to be set up in Hobart!
 
Jets

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
I think part of the plans is a Arctic cyclone machine to replicate the worst conditions imaginable.
 
Karl

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
So basically there are government approvals in place to do "stuff" that includes an extra field and better facilities, a pool, a new grandstand, visiting player accommodation etc, but no idea how it will get paid for and no clue when it will start or how long it'll take or what bits might get started first. There was some Government money from the Feds at one point, but Rudd renegged and there is maybe some dollars from the State Government, but that is a bit old news now too, so who knows if it's still on the table or how far it will go considering it was about 4 Million and this plan as a whole is what? 100Million?

There is a group talking about it that includes the QRU, at least one big developer etc, but I have only weak anecdotal evidence on that and have no idea where those discussions are at etc.

Surely a Site like this can find out SOMETHING? It's only one of the major Rugby Assets in the Country. I mean, why should there be anything more current than 2 YEARS AGO out there for us to go on?
 
Jets

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
The figure in 07 was around $28M so you would expect it to be up to around $50M these days. If you have been there recently you would know the existing structures need quite a bit of work.
Can't understand the need for a new stand. Plenty of seating for the events that would be held there as is.
If it does happen it would be a great facility for Union, League and Football. A great location for Junior rep events and Women's Test matches (remember them).
 
Badger

Badger

Bill McLean (32)
Jiggles said:
So I take it Ballymore is the only Union asset in the country? Isn't Concord owned by the NSWRU?
Click to expand...

Concord Oval may not be owned by the NSWRU as the City of Canada Bay local council is responsible for looking after it.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
Karl said:
So basically there are government approvals in place to do "stuff" that includes an extra field and better facilities, a pool, a new grandstand, visiting player accommodation etc, but no idea how it will get paid for and no clue when it will start or how long it'll take or what bits might get started first. There was some Government money from the Feds at one point, but Rudd renegged and there is maybe some dollars from the State Government, but that is a bit old news now too, so who knows if it's still on the table or how far it will go considering it was about 4 Million and this plan as a whole is what? 100Million?

There is a group talking about it that includes the QRU, at least one big developer etc, but I have only weak anecdotal evidence on that and have no idea where those discussions are at etc.

Surely a Site like this can find out SOMETHING? It's only one of the major Rugby Assets in the Country. I mean, why should there be anything more current than 2 YEARS AGO out there for us to go on?
Click to expand...

There are development approvals in place, the major obstacles have been overcome and they can now subsequently change some of the plans without having to go through the whole process, which was timely and expensive.

Federal Govt funding was committed by Howard back in 2007 which was subsequently withdrawn when Rudd came to power later that year, the funding offered by Howard was nothing more then pork barrelling which the QRU could have benefited from. The QLD Govt had committed funding to the 'pool' part of the project which was also going to double as a community centre and a new playing field, delays in the approval process and also a crime and misconduct commission investigation into misappropriation of the funding saw this withdrawn.

The major issue for the QRU is the GFC hangover effect on the property market and funding availability, i imagine the financial viability of the commercial building has changed dramatically, also the availability of cheap funding has also increased the overall cost and effected the viability. Bringing in a private developer won't work cause of two reasons, they don't have approval for any residential developments on the land and secondly gaining approval for such developments is going to be pushing shit up hill given the nature of the landhold agreement of Ballymore to the QRU.

The other significant issue which has impacted the future of the Ballymore site has been the change of power, those who were previously heavily involved in pushing the project are no longer with the QRU and arguably, a wiser more frugal body now represent in their place. Returning the QRU to a sustainable financial model is the first major issue the QRU needs to achieve, subsequent developments will come in time... Give the QRU were on the verge of bankruptcy, its no surprise that any major capital works project has been postponed.
 
Scotty

Scotty

David Codey (61)
The only way to get this viable would be to add residential units to the development, but that would mean another DA.
 
Karl

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
When I said Developer, I should have said civil construction company, I did not mean to imply it was a development partner. And if there is no chance to get the dollars, why are they running around talking to people about construction? They clearly have an intent to do something, I was trying to work out viability and tmelines, if any. Looks like dubious viability and no timelines.
 
Lindommer

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Jiggles said:
So I take it Ballymore is the only Union asset in the country? Isn't Concord owned by the NSWRU?
Click to expand...

Nah, local council own it. That's why they let the Wests Tigers use it as their training ground, and rake in a shitload of money for the privilege. Which the Canada Bay Council DON'T utilise for any sort of reasonable maintenance. Two years ago the ground was as dry as a nun's nasty as the water pumps were caput, but the council wouldn't fix/replace them as there were was "no money in the budget". Use the bloody money received by renting the ground you fools!

The thing which shits rugby supporters about Concord is the fact rugby (Western Suburbs/West Harbour/NSWRU) put up all the money to make Concord what it is.
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Lindommer said:
The thing which shits rugby supporters about Concord is the fact rugby (Western Suburbs/West Harbour/NSWRU) put up all the money to make Concord what it is.
Click to expand...


The Concord fiasco was a financial disaster for the NSWRU - I was overseas at the time, not across all the detail, but apparently there was either outright fraud or maybe just total incompetence during the redevelopment. The late David Clarke, then with Macquarie Bank, bailed them out with a few million dollars or so.

Ken Elphick's name springs to mind. :eek:
 
W

What2040

Guest
The worst thing about Ballymore is the access - love the ground, the history and all that but the home of rugby needs to be accessible. Plenty of land, close to M1, railway and public transport. Nothing in close but is (dare I say it) Logan the answer.
 
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