Como-Jannali 'Crocodiles' will tender to build their new clubhouse at Scylla Bay Oval

Officials of the junior rugby league club believe, by using tradesmen who are involved in the club as coaches, managers and in other roles, they can deliver the same quality as any other  builder, but at cost price.

This would provide “significant” savings, which could be spent on new equipment for teams.

The project was announced in September last year following a public outcry over the facilities on low-lying, reclaimed land at Como being flooded with water and sewage during severe wet spells.

A development application was approved this month and Sutherland Shire Council will shortly call tenders for the work, which has been estimated to cost $1.2 million.

The new clubhouse will be built 0.8 metres above the existing ground level to avoid flooding.

The project became possible when the state government and National Rugby League helped the council with additional funding.

Club president Craig Clifton said the club had to contribute $300,000.

Mr Clifton said part of this sum would be covered by grants, but there would still be a shortfall, which the club hoped to offset by doing the work itself.

“We don’t own the asset – the council does – we just lease it,” he said.

“The work has to go to tender and we will have to meet the criteria.

”We believe, by using tradesmen involved with the club, we can build the same quality for a better price.

”We have people experienced with big developments and others who work with building companies -electricians, plumbers, concreters – you name it, we’ve got them.

“Our ‘tradies’ will do it for cost price, rather than an inflated commercial price.

“This will save a significant sum, which will mean we will have money to buy new equipment for the teams and put back into the club.”

Mr Cliftton said the old building was expected to be demolished in July and the new facilities completed early next year in time for the new season.

”It will be state of the art, a fantastic facility not just for the football club and cricket club, but the whole community,” he said.

“The council has worked extremely hard to get this over the line.

“They have really done a great job in getting the DA [development application] through and working with the neighbours, who had some objections.”

The DA said the clubhouse and amenities building were built in 1962 on reclaimed land. 

They were also on an overland stormwater flow path and, under significant weather events, were subject to inundation from simultaneous flood and high tidal influences.

The DA said, in July 2013, an incident of sewage contamination within the building occurred, followed by another during a storm in April last year.

While the council had repaired stormwater and sewer infrastructure, the risk of the facilities flooding remained.

The DA stated nine trees, which were part of the original vegetation at the rear of the clubhouse, would need to be removed.

More trees would be planted to compensate.

“The site forms part of what was originally Scylla Bay, an inlet on the Georges River,” the DA said.

“Parts of the bay would have been in the intertidal zone with mangroves and swamp oak forests fringing the area.

“Council commenced the reclamation of Scylla Bay in 1931 employing labour through an employment scheme to construct a sandstone seawall and fill in the bay. 

“Works continued through to the 1940s.

“The reclaimed land was intended for recreational purposes and became contiguous with the adjacent Como Pleasure Grounds.”