News Potential training centre at St Mary's Oval

[AM]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au...nd-training-base/story-fnjuhrxq-1227169454096

GEELONG will have to fork out up to $20 million for its second training base after its proposed Armstrong Creek venue was finally declared “dead in the water”.

The Cats were meant to inherit an $11.5 million training facility free of charge as part of a deal with Keystone Business Park, in which the club would have been an anchor tenant in the $1 billion precinct off Barwon Heads Rd.

In late 2011, the Cats announced a contra deal with Keystone Business Park by which the club would be given an exclusive training centre at Armstrong Creek, funded entirely by Keystone. In exchange, the Cats provided sponsorship privileges to Keystone.

The facility was due for completion by the end of last year, but it never got off the ground and the Cats were forced to write off $1.93 million from their balance sheet last year as a result.

Cook confirmed the project had been “pretty much” abandoned — the strongest admission by the club yet after a lack of investment at the site.

That proposition was always too good to be true.

Good on the Hawks for their forward thinking and bold plans. With their strong supporter base and sponsor support (just why the Tasmanian Government tips in so much still astounds me) reckon they will get it done without having too many finance issues.

 

[CharacterFirst]

That proposition was always too good to be true.

Good on the Hawks for their forward thinking and bold plans. With their strong supporter base and sponsor support (just why the Tasmanian Government tips in so much still astounds me) reckon they will get it done without having too many finance issues.

It did seem too good to be true at the time, and so it has proved, as you say.

 

[JUBJUB]

Not sure how much it would take to buy a chunk of land down somewhere convenient. Maybe they should just get approval to get a couple of Ovals back in East Geelong Parkland... Back to the Future or buy a failed winery down the Peninsula.

I cant see StMarys just pulling up stumps without a fight... so not many realistic solutions.

An ideal spot would've been the old section of Ford [I think Godfrey Hirst now own it] near the Separation St bridge in North Geelong.Huge area,plus if they purchased the grass area in between the 2 sections of Ford [they were sold separetly] it would be massive.Knock down the old Ford building and build a new place with an indoor oval and you could have another oval outside.

 

[Turbocat]

An ideal spot would've been the old section of Ford [I think Godfrey Hirst now own it] near the Separation St bridge in North Geelong.Huge area,plus if they purchased the grass area in between the 2 sections of Ford [they were sold separetly] it would be massive.Knock down the old Ford building and build a new place with an indoor oval and you could have another oval outside.

Interesting idea linking to something already there.

The old section of Ford now owned by Godfrey Hurst... you mean the Plant 5 building, closest to town . I actually thought it would have been a good indoor netball sort of deal.... GF have spent a heap on it though.

The grass in between... I doubt it would have ben ideal for the players running around. Quite a bit enviorment issues in the soil.

Knock down the old building... do you mean the building the Plant 5 building? Certainly it could be knocked down ..unlike the other Fords build with a Heritage criteria attached.


Still I think , the club would like somewhere a bit less industrial. Maybe we should take a leaf out of a Melb suggestion. A area thats under utilised would be the show grounds.... again a bit too industrial but they may be able to justify funds with multiple use. After all Geelong basically on would want it over summer....

There is probably several sites like that which would work I guess. Whats at the old Ready Lakes now?

 

[JUBJUB]

Interesting idea linking to something already there.

The old section of Ford now owned by Godfrey Hurst... you mean the Plant 5 building, closest to town . I actually thought it would have been a good indoor netball sort of deal.... GF have spent a heap on it though.

Yep the one closest to town.I think Frank Costa was one of the buyers of that building.They were going to set up a home maker type place as well as have a large call centre based there but plans fell through.

Still I think , the club would like somewhere a bit less industrial. Maybe we should take a leaf out of a Melb suggestion. A area thats under utilised would be the show grounds.... again a bit too industrial but they may be able to justify funds with multiple use. After all Geelong basically on would want it over summer....

The showgrounds isn't a great location.Also it is used a lot.

Other side of Geelong out Waurn Ponds way is the obvious place.A huge growing area.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Interesting idea linking to something already there.

The old section of Ford now owned by Godfrey Hurst... you mean the Plant 5 building, closest to town . I actually thought it would have been a good indoor netball sort of deal.... GF have spent a heap on it though.

The grass in between... I doubt it would have ben ideal for the players running around. Quite a bit enviorment issues in the soil.

Knock down the old building... do you mean the building the Plant 5 building? Certainly it could be knocked down ..unlike the other Fords build with a Heritage criteria attached.


Still I think , the club would like somewhere a bit less industrial. Maybe we should take a leaf out of a Melb suggestion. A area thats under utilised would be the show grounds.... again a bit too industrial but they may be able to justify funds with multiple use. After all Geelong basically on would want it over summer....

There is probably several sites like that which would work I guess. Whats at the old Ready Lakes now?

I take it you mean the former Reedy Lakes golf course? I think it was turned into a retirement village.

 

[Teriyakicat]

That proposition was always too good to be true.

Good on the Hawks for their forward thinking and bold plans. With their strong supporter base and sponsor support (just why the Tasmanian Government tips in so much still astounds me) reckon they will get it done without having too many finance issues.

The Tassie Govt are just passing on the money they get from WA via the GST, AM.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

The Tassie Govt are just passing on the money they get from WA via the GST, AM.

Oh not this again Teri. Heyzues This ol chestnut

 

[Teriyakicat]

Oh not this again Teri. Heyzues This ol chestnut

I like to chuck in a firecracker like that, every chance I get, NSFB

 

[Jordie_tackles]

Lots of land at the university, would be a smart move imo? Create some strong connections with Deakins sports sciences at the same time

 

[Jordie_tackles]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au...t/news-story/25167ac9d54136d3516354f16203e02e

This could be the ultimate long term solution. I know a lot of people don't want the salt basins redeveloped but I think this would be great.

 

[JUBJUB]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au...t/news-story/25167ac9d54136d3516354f16203e02e

This could be the ultimate long term solution. I know a lot of people don't want the salt basins redeveloped but I think this would be great.

It's going to take many,many,many years for that area to be cleaned up.It's just a swamp.

 

[speedybundy]

Word is we're close to finalizing a deal at Deakin. The headline to that article is such a beat up, it'll be more of a belmont common than AAMI park from the sounds of things

 

[JD Tomahawk]

I'd kick St Marys out of KP. We should be at Kardina Park. Enough room to build and less mucking around for the players. They'll be back and forth all the time otherwise. Otherwise I'd rather just see things stay as they are.