Coopers Hill on its last legs?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:41 pmhttp://eastern-courier-messenger.wherei ... ed-backed/
NORWOOD Oval’s famed Cooper’s Hill should be bulldozed to make way for two-storey clubrooms, according to public feedback on redevelopment plans.
A building on the Cooper’s Hill site is one of four options for new clubrooms to be shared by the Redlegs and a merged Norwood, St Morris and Kensington Park RSL sub-branch.
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council received 54 submissions during public consultation which ended last month.
The $6.3 million Cooper’s Hill option was the most preferred, followed closely by a $7 million three-storey venue to replace the Baulderstone Stand.
The council gave in-principle support to the Cooper’s Hill option and a $6.7 million upgrade of the heritage-listed Edwin T Smith Stand in February last year.
The fourth option is a $6.8 million three-storey building on the Norwood RSL site in the oval’s north-western corner.
Redlegs vice-president Paul Di Iulio said the club’s first preference was the Baulderstone Stand redevelopment but it was happy to work with the council on the Cooper’s Hill option provided its iconic nature was not lost.
“A new members’ facility is very important to the club and has been the No.1 priority for a number of years,” he said.
“Any development on Cooper’s Hill will need to be sensitive to the needs of the many members (and) supporters that view the football from that area.”
Mr Di Iulio was confident the club and council would achieve “an excellent outcome” for all stakeholders.
Mr Dunk said Cooper’s Hill was the best option for nearby residents because there would not be problems of overshadowing, encroachment or damage to heritage buildings.
“It doesn’t impinge on the area outside of the grounds,” he said.
He understood the club wanted to retain Cooper Hill’s but it would come at a cost to residents.
“There doesn’t appear to be any other options which are equally as workable.”
But Redlegs fan Nicholas Damiani said he did not support Cooper’s Hill being lost.
“The simple fact is a lot of the club’s match day revenue comes from the alcohol sold on Coopers Hill,” he said.
“And one of the main reasons people go is to experience that atmosphere.”
Mr Damiani, 30, supported the redevelopment but said new clubrooms should be built in the south-west corner of the ground.
RSL state chief executive Sam Jackman said the league supported both the Cooper’s Hill and Baulderstone options.
“We don’t have a preference which one ... both meet the RSL’s needs,” she said.
The redevelopment will be jointly funded by the Redlegs, the RSL and NP&SP ratepayers, but negotiations are not yet finalised.
Consultation results will be analysed by staff then presented to the council no earlier than May.
NORWOOD Oval’s famed Cooper’s Hill should be bulldozed to make way for two-storey clubrooms, according to public feedback on redevelopment plans.
A building on the Cooper’s Hill site is one of four options for new clubrooms to be shared by the Redlegs and a merged Norwood, St Morris and Kensington Park RSL sub-branch.
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council received 54 submissions during public consultation which ended last month.
The $6.3 million Cooper’s Hill option was the most preferred, followed closely by a $7 million three-storey venue to replace the Baulderstone Stand.
The council gave in-principle support to the Cooper’s Hill option and a $6.7 million upgrade of the heritage-listed Edwin T Smith Stand in February last year.
The fourth option is a $6.8 million three-storey building on the Norwood RSL site in the oval’s north-western corner.
Redlegs vice-president Paul Di Iulio said the club’s first preference was the Baulderstone Stand redevelopment but it was happy to work with the council on the Cooper’s Hill option provided its iconic nature was not lost.
“A new members’ facility is very important to the club and has been the No.1 priority for a number of years,” he said.
“Any development on Cooper’s Hill will need to be sensitive to the needs of the many members (and) supporters that view the football from that area.”
Mr Di Iulio was confident the club and council would achieve “an excellent outcome” for all stakeholders.
Mr Dunk said Cooper’s Hill was the best option for nearby residents because there would not be problems of overshadowing, encroachment or damage to heritage buildings.
“It doesn’t impinge on the area outside of the grounds,” he said.
He understood the club wanted to retain Cooper Hill’s but it would come at a cost to residents.
“There doesn’t appear to be any other options which are equally as workable.”
But Redlegs fan Nicholas Damiani said he did not support Cooper’s Hill being lost.
“The simple fact is a lot of the club’s match day revenue comes from the alcohol sold on Coopers Hill,” he said.
“And one of the main reasons people go is to experience that atmosphere.”
Mr Damiani, 30, supported the redevelopment but said new clubrooms should be built in the south-west corner of the ground.
RSL state chief executive Sam Jackman said the league supported both the Cooper’s Hill and Baulderstone options.
“We don’t have a preference which one ... both meet the RSL’s needs,” she said.
The redevelopment will be jointly funded by the Redlegs, the RSL and NP&SP ratepayers, but negotiations are not yet finalised.
Consultation results will be analysed by staff then presented to the council no earlier than May.
