|
Simonds Stadium development
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
3:37 PM
Media Releases
The City of Greater Geelong will maintain its funding support of the southern stand development at Simonds Stadium in recognition of the community benefits the stadium delivers said Mayor John Mitchell.
“As an elite level sports venue and the home of Australia’s only regional AFL team Simonds Stadium delivers significant economic and social benefits to the Geelong region – and although the Geelong Football Club has altered its scope of works – the redevelopment of the southern stand remains an important and valuable upgrade,” said Cr Mitchell.
The Geelong Football Club, which is acting as project manager for the southern stand redevelopment, has sought to rescope the works following higher than expected project costs.
The rescoped works will mean overall spectator capacity at Simonds Stadium will increase to approximately 33,000 rather than the original estimate of 34,662 and a proposed members room will be removed from the project.
The new southern stand will have approximately 8,860 seats resulting in an increase to overall stadium capacity of some 2,262.
Other aspects of the project, including new public amenities and concourse linkages, a new community wellness and education centre, new past players facilities and police and first aid rooms, will be retained.
“The revised project scope will still provide for increased access and use of Simonds Stadium not just for AFL games but for other sports and community events,” said the Mayor.
“Major Events are key component of the City’s economic development strategy and the fact that we have national standard venues such as Simonds Stadium is one of Geelong’s competitive advantages when it comes to us bidding for events,” he said.
|