Jubilee Stadium will get a giant 98 square-metre video screen, gifted to Georges River Council by the NSW Office of Sport.
The NSW Government is donating the Mitsubishi screen valued at around $350,000 to the council, mayor Kevin Green announced at this week’s council meeting.
But the council will have to pay for the cost of installing the giant screen, to cost between $350,000 to 4400,000.
The unused video screen is owned by Venues NSW, part of the NSW Office of Sport.
The screen, which is double the size of the screen currently used at the stadium, was identified as something that could enhance the quality of patron experience at Jubilee Stadium.
The giant screen would stand where the current screen is on the hill on the eastern side of the stadium, subject to geotechnical reports.
And it will be a valuable source of income for the council with hiring rights estimated to be about $15,000 a time.
With the assistance of Oatley MP Mark Coure, Councillor Greene made representations to the NSW Sports Minister, Stuart Ayers who agreed to gift the screen to Georges River Council for the specific purpose of being installed at Jubilee Stadium on condition the council funds the installation.
The installation costs of $350,000 to $400,000 will be sourced from the council’s Asset, Infrastructure and Road Management Reserve.
A draw-down on the fund could be repaid over five years taken from the naming rights and sponsorship revenue for the stadium, a council report said.
But Councillor Con Hindi spoke against accepting the donation of the screen from the NSW Government and spending $400,000.
Councillor Hindi pointed out that some Councillors did not support a motion by Councillor Colleen Symington to construct private vehicular access to residential properties across Taylors Reserve, Lugarno at no cost to residents.
The proposal was endorsed by the majority of councillors.
“I don’t have a problem with the screen per se,” Cr Hindi said. “But I have a problem with the money, $400,000 we are going to put out there.
“Last month we (some councillors) voted against (providing a road) for residents in Taylors Avenue. We did not have the money to build a road.
“Yet now we have found the money for the screen from exactly the same fund where the money was going to come from for the road.
“We are going to fork out $400,000 for this screen yet half this council voted against Taylor Avenue. Now everyone has found the money because it is a screen for football.
“There are more important things to support in our community. It’s the principle behind it.”
Mayor Kevin Greene spoke in favour of accepting the State Government’s gift of the screen and the $400,000 installation cost.
He said hirers would pay $15,000 per game for using the screen.
“In two to three seasons the actual cost of the screen would to totally paid for,” he said.
“This is something that will provide a much-improved stadium, not just for the residents of the Georges River community but for the hirers.”
His fellow councillors agreed with him and voted to accept the government’s donation of the screen.
Cr Stephen Agius said the screen would be financially advantageous to the council.
“This is our premier sporting facility in our area. Jubilee Oval is showcased on a national level and we should be proud to show off our community on a national screen. This is being shown around Australia and around the world for many sporting events.
“When you are sitting there watching the game on TV, you will see the screen and picturesque Botany Bay over the hill. It is a beautiful stadium that everyone will admire and enjoy.”