North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker says the council will play its part to ensure North Sydney Oval can host the Perth Bears and called for the state and federal governments to commit to funding to get the boutique ground up to NRL standard.
The NRL’s 18th franchise will play the majority of its home games at Western Australia’s HBF Park when it enters the competition in 2027, although ARLC chair Peter V’landys wants the team to return to North Sydney Oval once a season. That is music to the ears of diehard Bears fans, who will welcome the chance to see the red-and-blacks back at their spiritual home.
However, North Sydney Oval is in dire need of funding for upgrades – not only for the Bears but also the other sports that use the venue. Male and female cricket, soccer, rugby and rugby league teams regularly play at the ground, which has recently become more accessible following the introduction of a metro line a short distance away.
“North Sydney Oval is in really urgent need of an upgrade, not just for the Bears but particularly for the women’s codes,” Baker said.
“Funding is difficult. We’ve been talking to the state government and will talk to the new federal member for the seat of Warringah who looks after North Sydney Oval, Zali Steggall, about funding to make that happen.
“Council is preparing plans, so there will be a master plan, and we’re doing that in concert with all of the [sporting] codes. The lessons of the previous council’s approach to the North Sydney Olympic pool will not be repeated. It has to be careful, transparent and costed so that everyone has confidence in what it will cost and what will be delivered.”
Bears legend Greg Florimo after a match at North Sydney Oval in 1993.Credit: Getty
The rebuild of North Sydney’s Olympic pool is a cautionary tale, given cost blowouts and revelations the construction company undertaking the project has launched a $28 million compensation court action against the council. Councillors recently voted to request an 87 per cent rate rise for property owners, in part due to the rising costs of the pool redevelopment.
The Bears played their last home game at North Sydney Oval, a 24-20 win over Melbourne, in round 25 of the 1999 season before their ill-fated marriage with Manly.
It’s likely that council will be able to provide at least $5 million of funding for the ground, if it was matched by reciprocal commitments from the state and federal governments.
“The last time the council had some plans, for basic upgrades to the structure and the changing rooms … it was around $10 million,” Baker said. “That was pre-Covid. It would be more than that now. The reality is that the contentious thing around North Sydney Oval is the seating.
“All of the codes would like to see individual, bucket seating that you see in a modern stadium, where there has been attention to the heritage. But the splintered, original wooden seats aren’t cutting it with modern sport and audiences.
“It also needs a good, careful plan to support sophisticated outdoor broadcasting.”
Asked how much the council could commit to the project, Baker said: “That depends on our financial repair strategy, which relies partly on a rate rise.
“We’re waiting on IPART [the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal] to let us know about that.
“Definitely the council is open to all codes and has a sentimental attachment, like the rest of North Sydney, to the Bears.”
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