The Western Bulldogs welcomes the State Government’s intervention to resolve a long standing town planning impasse with our local municipality of Maribyrnong in relation to the redevelopment of Whitten Oval and the establishment of an “in the workplace experiential learning centre” with Victoria University for their School of Human Movement.
This intervention will now enable the Club to complete the Whitten Oval redevelopment without interruption and it enables Victoria University to occupy the redeveloped John Gent stand.
The Bulldogs gratefully appreciate the State Government’s intervention without which the Whitten Oval redevelopment would have been partially completed and the financial implications to the club would have been most serious.
It is not the Club’s intention to have unsettled relations with our local council and the Bulldogs look to the future and moving forward in a positive and constructing way to develop a rewarding relationship for both organisations now that this matter has been resolved and is behind us.
Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon said “We are extremely thankful to the State Government for their support of our redevelopment which will lead to a wonderful community hub in the west of Melbourne and to Victoria University for their ongoing and continued faith in our ground breaking partnership.”
Mr Smorgon said “We look forward to resolving our differences with the Council as we work and strive to build this club to benefit all of those in the western region.”
The Western Bulldogs Board of Directors, Chief Executive and Club wish to reassure all of those who follow the red, white and blue – members, supporters and the like – that the day to day operations of the Club have never been better or stronger. It was the outstanding matter of town planning permits which threatened the Whitten Oval redevelopment and the Club’s ability to trade. This has now been fixed.
We look forward to the completion of Whitten Oval which will house teaching and community activities in what will be a wonderful community hub servicing the wider western region of Melbourne.
“This is a win for the west, a win for the Bulldogs, a win for Victoria University, a win for the State Government, a win for our local constituents and a win for the community we serve,” David Smorgon said.
“This enables the Bulldogs, an institution of 128 years within the western region of Melbourne, based in Footscray, to continue to strive to prosper as the AFL’s Community Club.”
Minister of Planning Media Release:
MADDEN STEPS IN TO GET WHITTEN OVAL PLAN MOVING
Planning Minister Justin Madden has stepped in to oversee the resolution of planning issues for a Sport and Recreation Learning Centre at Whitten Oval as part of the Bulldog’s $30 million redevelopment of the John Gent stand.
“The redevelopment of the Whitten Oval is important to the financial future of the Western Bulldogs Football Club,” Mr Madden said.
Mr Madden’s intervention, at the request of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, the AFL and Victoria University will secure the future use of Whitten Oval redevelopment, which is an important sporting and community centre for the people of the western suburbs.
“The redevelopment of Whitten Oval, specifically the partnership with the Victoria University Learning Centre, is a project of State significance and it is critical planning issues are satisfactorily resolved as soon as possible.
“I have assumed planning responsibility for the site to ensure all planning matters are resolved in a timely manner.”
Mr Madden said he had approved Amendment C75 to the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme to allow the use of Whitten Oval for a Victoria University Education centre.
“As part of the amendment, I have asked for a Green Travel Plan to be developed, which includes details of public transport access to the site and management arrangements for existing car parking at the Oval.
“The Learning Centre will complement Victoria University’s other educational facilities in Footscray and will provide an additional site for teaching,” he said.
The Victoria University Learning Centre at Whitten Oval is anticipated to open in 2009 for the start of the academic year.
