National Rugby League side Canterbury Bulldogs "has received the government's go-ahead" for a A$100M ($93M) project "to transform its premises at Belmore into a six-star hotel and create new revenue streams that should guarantee the financial security and strength of the Bulldogs," according to Daniel Lane of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The redevelopment will include:
- Changing the club's current L-shaped structure into a "U";
- Constructing a new wing, which would include a six-star hotel, the only such hotel in the city's south-west;
- Refurbishment of existing facilities;
- Allocating A$20M to dig for five underground levels to accommodate 400 new car spaces;
- Building a 1,000-seat function/conference center.
Insiders said that Canterbury's "ultimate aim was to follow the plan of Rozelle Village Pty Ltd." -- the property developer that bought the Balmain site in '09 for A$1 in exchange for absorbing the club's A$23.5M debt -- and "construct twin towers that would consist of up to 400 residential apartments, many of which would offer sweeping views of Sydney's skyline" (
SMH, 4/17).
