Club Carrot: Bulldogs tempted by old ground upgrade

By Jamie Pandaram

16 February 2005 – The Torch

CANTERBURY Council has offered the Bulldogs the chance to bring National Rugby League matches back to Belmore Sports Ground in a bid to entice the club to shelve relocation plans. The bold proposition has been talked about informally but will soon be part of a package offered by the council to the Bulldogs incorporating a possible multimillion dollar upgrade of the Belmore site.

The Bulldogs had hoped to have settled into Bass Hill's The Crest sporting complex before this season's kick-off in March, but they claim Bankstown Council has delayed processing their application, giving Canterbury Council the opportunity to step in with their dangling carrot. "There have been a number of discussions between council and the Bulldogs," Canterbury Council's general manager, Jim Montague, said.

"The possibility of NRL games played at Belmore was discussed. "The ground, as it is now, is not suitable for NRL games. As to whether the ground could be upgraded to allow that would need to be discussed." Mr Montague denied that the council's offer was in response to the rumoured closure of Canterbury Racecourse, which, if it were to eventuate and coincide with the Bulldogs' departure, would leave the area drastically short of major sporting complexes or organisations. "I have heard the rumours (about Canterbury Racecourse) but I see no connection," Mr Montague said. The Bulldogs announced last year their intentions to move from their historical base because of the dilapidated state of the Belmore complex, and cited The Crest as an ideal location to house their administrative and training complexes.

But the club is now under the impression that it won't be possible for the move to occur until at least midway through the 2005 season. "It became obvious that we wouldn't be moving in there by the start of the season," Bulldogs chief executive, Malcolm Noad, said. "Canterbury Council then came to us with an informal offer for us to remain at Belmore.

"We have given them a date of April 1 to come back to us with a formal proposition." Mr Noad said the offer to stage NRL games at Belmore "is a multimillion dollar proposal" but one the club would be willing to consider. However, Bankstown Council general manager, Richard Colley, said the council will consider the development application lodged by Bankstown Sports Club - the sub-lessee of The Crest - on behalf of the Bulldogs, at its first meeting next Tuesday. If approved, Mr Colley said he saw no reason why the Bulldogs could not move into a temporary facility at The Crest immediately and then have the permanent facility built within six months.

The application requests the Bulldogs be allowed to set up offices underneath the Dunc Gray Velodrome and build a gymnasium and change rooms nearby. The Sports Club's secretary manager, John McKay, said he is confident the Bulldogs will establish themselves at The Crest before the end of this year. A factor which may influence the Bulldogs is the $173,800 in reparation costs the club must pay before vacating Belmore, as part of the restoration of the stands and corporate boxes damaged by vandals. The Bulldogs are yet to sign a shorts sponsor for the 2005 season, and have backing from only one major and one sleeve sponsor. If they were to remain at Belmore they could arrange to pay off the reparation debt as part of the ground's upgrade.