On Council's Agenda for the Tuesday August 25th, 2020 Meeting is an item to seek Council approval to apply to the Minister for Local Government for consent to grant a ground lease for thirty years to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Ltd (MWSE), for the construction and operation of the new Centre of Excellence and Grandstand on the northern end of Brookvale Oval.
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles state the new Centre of Excellence and Northern Grandstand facility will secure the future of the Sea Eagles in the heart of our area.
The Centre of Excellence and 3,000-seat covered northern grandstand will future proof this community facility for future generations of young players by supporting Club development both on and off the field and bolstering its ambitions of launching a women’s NRL team and further enhancing youth sporting development.
It is anticipated fans will be able to experience games from the comfort of the new grandstand for the 2022 season (subject to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Key features of the new development will include a 3,000 covered seating area, food and beverage facilities, high performance, training and administration facilities, medical and rehabilitation facilities, an elite level gymnasium, aquatic recovery and rehabilitation pools, facilities to support on the rise of female sporting participation, and dedicated and multipurpose community education facilities and community meeting rooms.
Centre of Excellence - artist impression of south facade view
The total cost of the investment is $33.1M. This project is jointly funded by the State Government, Federal Government and the Sea Eagles, with the NSW Government providing 20 million, the Federal Government 12.5 million and 600 hundred thousand coming from the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. No Council/ratepayer funding is being used to deliver the project.
The project underlines the commitment of the Council and the Sea Eagles to ongoing investment in Brookvale and builds on the momentum of the joint announcement in July 2019 to upgrade the playing field at the end of the 2020 NRL playing season. The Sea Eagles have called the venue home since 1947, playing their first match on Brookvale Oval on April 12th of that year.
The Centre of Excellence and Grandstand will be constructed at the northern end of Lottoland, where the existing scoreboard and Family Hill are located. The Sea Eagles understand the importance of the Family Hill area of the venue and will advise members and supporters of the location of the new Family Hill once the designs for the redevelopment are finalised. At this stage, it will most likely be a temporary allocation on the Eastern Hill.
There is also the Sea Eagles ethos to give back to Brookvale and the community being demonstrated as the dedicated and multipurpose community facilities will enable the Club to expand its suite of community programs, increase its reach and further its positive impact in the community.
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles is committed to raising awareness of healthy lifestyles, fostering self-esteem, positive behaviour and mental health amongst young people.
Centre of Excellence - artist impression of lobby view
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles acknowledges that living near a sports stadium can be challenging, and the management of traffic, noise and other impacts on amenity in and around the precinct is important for residents. Traffic Impact Assessments have been undertaken as part of the planning application and the advice received is that the Centre for Excellence and grandstand will not add to current parking and traffic.
The new grandstand will not change the capacity of Lottoland. The Centre for Excellence will provide parking for staff and visitors, which will be located on the corner of Alfred Street and Federal Parade.
Brookvale Park will continue to be open for public access.
Construction will be guided by a Construction Management Plan that will also require Council approval. During the construction work, every effort will be made to minimise disruption to local traffic and on-street parking.
On Friday 31 July 2020, the Sydney North Planning Panel formally approved the Development Application in relation to the COE and Northern Grandstand Development. The Sea Eagles would like to thank all community members that made submissions in support of the Development Application to demonstrate the overwhelming community support for the project.
The construction tender period for the project was held between Tuesday 5 May 2020 – Monday 29 June 2020. The tender evaluation was placed on hold while Development Approval for the project was being finalised. With Development Approval now being received, the tender evaluation process will resume. It is envisaged that a preferred contractor will be identified by end August 2020 and that construction works will commence on site at the end of the 2020 NRL playing season.
Centre of Excellence - artist impression
The initial building design was inspired by the shape of a Sea Eagle with architectural drawings and plans by Health Project International first submitted to the state government by the Manly Sea Eagles in late March 2017. On Friday February 8th, 2019 the NSW Government announced its funding input.
The last game for the 2020 NRL Season will be played at ANZ Stadium on October 25th, 2020.
Centre of Excellence - artist impression of exterior facade
FAQ's
Will the Sea Eagles be able to host games at Lottoland during construction?
Yes. The ground will remain operational during construction. The stadium capacity will be reduced during this period. Stadium attendance will be subject to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Will the turf be upgraded as part of the project?
Northern Beaches Council has committed funding to the Lottoland turf upgrade the end of the 2020 NRL playing season. The delivery of the turf upgrade project will be managed under the supervision of the Sea Eagles.
How long will the construction process take?
It is envisaged that the construction process will take between 12 – 18 months to complete.
Keeping You Informed
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles is committed to keeping members and supporters informed on project progress.
You can provide feedback or request more information by contacting Chris Brown, Waypoint at chris.brown@waypointgrp.com.au.
Centre of Excellence gym - artist impression