HERE is what we know about the upgrading of the Eureka Stadium and the prospect of getting AFL games to Ballarat:
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The AFL has made no commitment to playing future games in Ballarat.
The 6000-seat grandstand proposed is too small to meet AFL requirements.
Plans for a 6000-seat grandstand have never been before Ballarat City Council; not available on their website.
Ditto for staging of grandstand from 6000 to AFL size. (When will size be increased, at what cost, and when can we anticipate AFL games?)
Business plan for upgraded facility is nonexistent.
Rationale offered in support of original stadium upgrade with 15,000-seat grandstand "Build it and they will come". Rationale for a 6000-seat option not clear, though we do know if we build it the AFL have said they won't come (except for NAB Cup games, for which they already come).
Capital cost of 6000 and future 15,000-seat grandstand never presented to council. Costs for supporting corporate, merchandising and food vending facilities are not known to be included.
Future subsidies by ratepayers towards operating costs of Eureka Stadium is unknown.
Income to ratepayers from Ballarat North Football Club for use of Eureka Stadium is currently $5823.55 a year, plus CPI.
Annual cost to ratepayers of maintaining the ground to current AFL/VFL standard, including water and amortised costs of periodic resurfacing is unstated by council (and possibly unknown by councillors, though it could be anywhere between 50 to 100 times as much as the rent paid).
Income from AFL pre-season game at Eureka is not public knowledge. Neither is the cost to ratepayers.
Master plan for whole of Eureka/showgrounds/CE Brown Reserve/Wendouree Oval has not been before council and is not available on the council website.
Same for revised capital costs for master plan.
Same for operating costs for master plan facilities. No business plan exists.
Capital costs of supporting infrastructure such as road upgrades, car parking improvements and passenger rail extension to accommodate AFL crowds have never been provided. (They will cost a packet and the proposal won't work without them.)
Responsibility for these and any cost over-runs on the stadium upgrade is not stated.
This project is potentially so costly for Ballarat ratepayers to make it a success, it demands more transparency.
Publishing the plans and providing the business case for public scrutiny would be a start.
Ratepayers might then understand the level of risk they are being asked to sign up for. At present, the bid appears nowhere near match ready.