Dees weigh up new site
MELBOURNE has zeroed in on five locations, including a parcel of land next to Richmond Station, as potential sites for its new club headquarters. The club is determined to find an inner-city location to house its administration and football department under one roof. Currently, the Dees are split between the MCG and AAMI Park. Melbourne has a set a deadline of 2023 to find a new home and has progressed on the project including identifying five locations. The Richmond station site and two car park areas close to Gosch’s Paddock are firmly on the Demons’ radar. At a club members’ function on Monday night, Melbourne president Glen Bartlett said “there is movement at the station, but I can’t say too much”. The Richmond station site is a prime piece of crown land diagonally across from Gosch’s Paddock and would give Melbourne a new home in the heart of the sporting precinct. The tight kidney-shaped allotment, on the corner of Punt Rd and Swan St, is being explored to build a multi-storey building. However, the size of the block, because of the considerable planning restrictions, would make it difficult for the Demons to execute the bold vision there. The areas closest to Punt Rd and Swan St are reserved for future widening and transport projects, leaving the Dees with limited space there. There are two other car park options which are conveniently located either side of AAMI Park within short walking distance to Gosch’s Paddock.