- Dec 7, 2016
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This is the latest that I gleaned from the Development Victoria and Ballarat Council reps at Eureka Stadium on Wednesday. The first thing that I noticed is that they are not mucking about, demolition of the old showgrounds is well underway. They want the Athletics facility completely finished by April 2026.
I asked all of the questions that I thought that you folks would ask:
Q. Looking at the old Showgrounds, there are some heritage WW2 pavilions and huts that originated at the old Ballarat RAAF Base, is there any plan to preserve or relocate those?
A. We considered them and the general consensus was that they had no historical value. ... Yes, I nearly fell off my broomstick with discust!
Q. You have a small carpark planned adjacent to Howitt Street, is there any other plan to expand carparking in the vicinity of the stadium beyond that?
A. That is not within our scope in this stage of the development.
Q. The stadium's lighting I consider to be its Achilles Heal. I was here during that horror July 18 game where the lighting and supplementary lights were virtually ineffective. Is an upgrade to be included as part of this development?
A. That is not within our scope in this stage of the development. The Council are examining their options for this.
In July 2018 after the horror game against Port Adelaide when Ballarat's weather unleashed its best Winter blast, the media lambasted Ballarat and the Mayor Samantha McIntosh said at that time that "Lighting improvements will be part of any Council conditions for future stadium upgrades", so what happened? Wouldn't it be easier to relocate the existing light towers to the new athletics centre and install new higher output LED fitted light towers similar to those at Ikon Park and the VUWO for a piddling sum of $4 million? Crickets!!!!
You do realise that as long as the existing lighting situation remains that Ballarat will never get prime time free-to-air TV exposure, or have a shot at hosting BBL cricket in Summer like Launceston, Canberra, Cairns and even Albury currently do? It does seem to be almost anti "Development Victoria" doesn't it? An awkward laugh was the response.
Q. You are effectively removing a 4000-capacity standing hill and replacing with two stands of 5000 seating, does this mean that capacity will increase?
A. The Council think that 11,000 is a good number in consideration of prevailing parking and transport access limitations. My response - That probably makes sense given that the State Government have indicated that they are not interested in building a train platform or railway station in the vicinity this side of 2030.
I noticed on the drive in tonight that the old MB Johns site is now being carved up and will soon be covered with small commercial and industrial businesses. That was perfect for development of sports fields and carparking, it seems like an opportunity lost.
Q. Okay, so what about the South-Western boundary between the existing video scoreboard and the South-Western standing hill. Is there a plan to increase standing elevated capacity in that part of the ground?
A. That part of the ground will be modified, including shifting the scoreboard around the boundary toward the goals and there will be elevated pathways constructed so there will be some increased elevated standing area in that zone. Our aim is to enhance total accessibility around the stadium. That there will be no stairs or ramps, just gradiented pathways. We will even modify the whole Gate 2 entrance to remove steps and the existing ramp
Q. Why did the designers create two stands and propose to place them where they have? Wouldn't it have been better to extend the existing main stand southward to block the southerly winds that have significant impact on the on field play?
A. The Ballarat Council insisted that they didn't want a big stand or a Kardinia Park clone, that they wanted the stadium to retain a regional vibe. So the two stands were made smaller and strategically positioned to frame the historic Selkirk Chimney from the main TV camera angle. ... You mean the expensive pay-to-view Kayo TV camera angle? ... A polite awkward laugh was the response.
Q. You are no doubt aware that the original architects (Peddle Thorp) future proofed the begezzus out of this stadium as part of the first stage design and build?
A. What do you mean? ... For instance, the existing stands were designed for expansion with minimal cost and effort. Look across at the Eastern Stand. The roof is designed to be removed easily and up to 20 rows added rearward to extend that stand's capacity by a further 2000. I can see how easy it would be to remove the existing roof and more or less create a new 3000 capacity stand that matches the design of two new stands that are about to be built. Eventually you would have three stands identical around the eastern boundary of the stadium comprising 8000 seats?
At this point, they realised that my husband and I knew a fair bit about the stadium's development and their answers became more on point
A. (The Ballarat Council representative looking at me surprised interjected to respond) You are exactly right! We did examine that as one of our first options for this stage but presently the boundary for the stadium's fence line along Creswick Road is too close to make those changes, but we are now seeking to extend the fence boundary out by several metres toward Creswick road to allow for the next stage of seating expansion to occur on the Eastern Stand as part of any future expansion works.
They did ask us at this point what our interest was in this, and I explained that I was an interested former North Ballarat Sports Club worker and we are both North Melbourne Tragics. The guy who I spoke to said "Quote ... North Melbourne could be playing two games a year on this ground along with the Bulldogs in the future". I responded ... "Not likely, the Western Bulldogs fought tooth and nail to get North Melbourne the Hell out of Ballarat in 2014 striking a deal with Dan Andrews. Yes, North had a fantastic relationship here with the Roosters and it supported both clubs wonderfully. North even built up a big support base here locally by 2014, but the Bulldogs have invested a lot of time and resources to establish their roots here in the community and to build a strong support base among the kids in the schools since 2015. They definitely would NOT welcome or want any other club sharing territory here ... Seriously, that isn't going to happen. I would consider Bendigo and the development of the Queen Elizabeth Oval as a serious alternative consideration for North Melbourne, but they need to get on the front foot now with that and not lob back into Victoria four years from now scratching their heads. If they want funding for that, they have to start now.
Q. You have allocated a generous recreational parkland on the Western side of the old Showgrounds, why not expand carparking there?
A. The Council indicated that they wanted that space reserved for future recreational use. They indicated that the area should be big enough to accommodate a future soccer pitch.
Q. These are going to be reasonably large stands by regional standards, how much bigger a higher will they each be relative to the existing Western Stand as a reference point?
A. The new stands will occupy a bigger footprint because the existing Western Stand currently seats 3200. The new stands will be a bit higher because they will have up to 30 rows of seating, but he seating pitch will be identical to the Western Stand. The roofline will be about 25 metres at their highest point relative to the oval, whereas the Western Stand is 17 metres above the boundary.
Q. How will the space underneath the new stands be used?
A. These areas will accommodate toilets, dedicated mother's rooms for baby changing and feeding etc. Additional change rooms and official areas for first aid, plus we will have under cover dedicated zones for food vans. ... That's fair enough, it would be a waste of resource to build dedicated kitchens and bars particularly when a lot of the charm of coming to a game here involves the range of food choices that come from the local food vans and the simple fact that the prices are cheaper and you can have a full-strength bevvy from a can. On a personal note, I am glad that you've kept the old scoreboard. Back in the day I served cans from the old "Can Bar"
Q. On a different subject ... The athletics facility. A blue athletics track?
A. We have decided that the track will be a unique blue to match the blue of the original Eureka Flag. We have worked closely with the Ballarat Athletics Association to deliver what we believe will be the very best facility outside a capital city in Australia. The new athletics complex will feature a very modern clubhouse with three rows of covered seating along its frontage and new light towers.
There was more general discussion after that over tea and scones, but it was of a more general nature. I hope that I have shed some light on this for you all. There are some plusses (increased seating with better elevated viewing and better amenities), but I also personally think ... Not enoug (capacity will only moderately increase by about 1000, carparking and lights remain as the two issues that hamstring the potential of this stadium), my feelings on this upgrade are mixed but overall still positive.
I asked all of the questions that I thought that you folks would ask:
Q. Looking at the old Showgrounds, there are some heritage WW2 pavilions and huts that originated at the old Ballarat RAAF Base, is there any plan to preserve or relocate those?
A. We considered them and the general consensus was that they had no historical value. ... Yes, I nearly fell off my broomstick with discust!
Q. You have a small carpark planned adjacent to Howitt Street, is there any other plan to expand carparking in the vicinity of the stadium beyond that?
A. That is not within our scope in this stage of the development.
Q. The stadium's lighting I consider to be its Achilles Heal. I was here during that horror July 18 game where the lighting and supplementary lights were virtually ineffective. Is an upgrade to be included as part of this development?
A. That is not within our scope in this stage of the development. The Council are examining their options for this.
In July 2018 after the horror game against Port Adelaide when Ballarat's weather unleashed its best Winter blast, the media lambasted Ballarat and the Mayor Samantha McIntosh said at that time that "Lighting improvements will be part of any Council conditions for future stadium upgrades", so what happened? Wouldn't it be easier to relocate the existing light towers to the new athletics centre and install new higher output LED fitted light towers similar to those at Ikon Park and the VUWO for a piddling sum of $4 million? Crickets!!!!
You do realise that as long as the existing lighting situation remains that Ballarat will never get prime time free-to-air TV exposure, or have a shot at hosting BBL cricket in Summer like Launceston, Canberra, Cairns and even Albury currently do? It does seem to be almost anti "Development Victoria" doesn't it? An awkward laugh was the response.
Q. You are effectively removing a 4000-capacity standing hill and replacing with two stands of 5000 seating, does this mean that capacity will increase?
A. The Council think that 11,000 is a good number in consideration of prevailing parking and transport access limitations. My response - That probably makes sense given that the State Government have indicated that they are not interested in building a train platform or railway station in the vicinity this side of 2030.
I noticed on the drive in tonight that the old MB Johns site is now being carved up and will soon be covered with small commercial and industrial businesses. That was perfect for development of sports fields and carparking, it seems like an opportunity lost.Q. Okay, so what about the South-Western boundary between the existing video scoreboard and the South-Western standing hill. Is there a plan to increase standing elevated capacity in that part of the ground?
A. That part of the ground will be modified, including shifting the scoreboard around the boundary toward the goals and there will be elevated pathways constructed so there will be some increased elevated standing area in that zone. Our aim is to enhance total accessibility around the stadium. That there will be no stairs or ramps, just gradiented pathways. We will even modify the whole Gate 2 entrance to remove steps and the existing ramp
Q. Why did the designers create two stands and propose to place them where they have? Wouldn't it have been better to extend the existing main stand southward to block the southerly winds that have significant impact on the on field play?
A. The Ballarat Council insisted that they didn't want a big stand or a Kardinia Park clone, that they wanted the stadium to retain a regional vibe. So the two stands were made smaller and strategically positioned to frame the historic Selkirk Chimney from the main TV camera angle. ... You mean the expensive pay-to-view Kayo TV camera angle? ... A polite awkward laugh was the response.
Q. You are no doubt aware that the original architects (Peddle Thorp) future proofed the begezzus out of this stadium as part of the first stage design and build?
A. What do you mean? ... For instance, the existing stands were designed for expansion with minimal cost and effort. Look across at the Eastern Stand. The roof is designed to be removed easily and up to 20 rows added rearward to extend that stand's capacity by a further 2000. I can see how easy it would be to remove the existing roof and more or less create a new 3000 capacity stand that matches the design of two new stands that are about to be built. Eventually you would have three stands identical around the eastern boundary of the stadium comprising 8000 seats?
At this point, they realised that my husband and I knew a fair bit about the stadium's development and their answers became more on point
A. (The Ballarat Council representative looking at me surprised interjected to respond) You are exactly right! We did examine that as one of our first options for this stage but presently the boundary for the stadium's fence line along Creswick Road is too close to make those changes, but we are now seeking to extend the fence boundary out by several metres toward Creswick road to allow for the next stage of seating expansion to occur on the Eastern Stand as part of any future expansion works.
They did ask us at this point what our interest was in this, and I explained that I was an interested former North Ballarat Sports Club worker and we are both North Melbourne Tragics. The guy who I spoke to said "Quote ... North Melbourne could be playing two games a year on this ground along with the Bulldogs in the future". I responded ... "Not likely, the Western Bulldogs fought tooth and nail to get North Melbourne the Hell out of Ballarat in 2014 striking a deal with Dan Andrews. Yes, North had a fantastic relationship here with the Roosters and it supported both clubs wonderfully. North even built up a big support base here locally by 2014, but the Bulldogs have invested a lot of time and resources to establish their roots here in the community and to build a strong support base among the kids in the schools since 2015. They definitely would NOT welcome or want any other club sharing territory here ... Seriously, that isn't going to happen. I would consider Bendigo and the development of the Queen Elizabeth Oval as a serious alternative consideration for North Melbourne, but they need to get on the front foot now with that and not lob back into Victoria four years from now scratching their heads. If they want funding for that, they have to start now.
Q. You have allocated a generous recreational parkland on the Western side of the old Showgrounds, why not expand carparking there?
A. The Council indicated that they wanted that space reserved for future recreational use. They indicated that the area should be big enough to accommodate a future soccer pitch.
Q. These are going to be reasonably large stands by regional standards, how much bigger a higher will they each be relative to the existing Western Stand as a reference point?
A. The new stands will occupy a bigger footprint because the existing Western Stand currently seats 3200. The new stands will be a bit higher because they will have up to 30 rows of seating, but he seating pitch will be identical to the Western Stand. The roofline will be about 25 metres at their highest point relative to the oval, whereas the Western Stand is 17 metres above the boundary.
Q. How will the space underneath the new stands be used?
A. These areas will accommodate toilets, dedicated mother's rooms for baby changing and feeding etc. Additional change rooms and official areas for first aid, plus we will have under cover dedicated zones for food vans. ... That's fair enough, it would be a waste of resource to build dedicated kitchens and bars particularly when a lot of the charm of coming to a game here involves the range of food choices that come from the local food vans and the simple fact that the prices are cheaper and you can have a full-strength bevvy from a can. On a personal note, I am glad that you've kept the old scoreboard. Back in the day I served cans from the old "Can Bar"
Q. On a different subject ... The athletics facility. A blue athletics track?
A. We have decided that the track will be a unique blue to match the blue of the original Eureka Flag. We have worked closely with the Ballarat Athletics Association to deliver what we believe will be the very best facility outside a capital city in Australia. The new athletics complex will feature a very modern clubhouse with three rows of covered seating along its frontage and new light towers.
There was more general discussion after that over tea and scones, but it was of a more general nature. I hope that I have shed some light on this for you all. There are some plusses (increased seating with better elevated viewing and better amenities), but I also personally think ... Not enoug (capacity will only moderately increase by about 1000, carparking and lights remain as the two issues that hamstring the potential of this stadium), my feelings on this upgrade are mixed but overall still positive.
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