WE NEED OUR OWN CLUB

Secret plan to build facility at Oxenford revealed

A MULTI-million dollar Gold Coast Titans leagues club will be built at Oxenford in a bold deal to secure the NRL side’s financial future.

The plan, developed under top-secret conditions for more than two years, was revealed in a confidential email sent to Gold Coast city leaders last night by council chief executive Dale Dickson.

The leaked email reveals the club wants to build a 2500 sq m licensed community club on a 22,000 sq m site at Oxenford Park bordering the M1 and Cottonwood Place.

“Following representations from the Titans, the city has made an ‘in principle’ offer to lease the land, subject to a number of preconditions being met,” Mr Dickson wrote.

A development application will be made to the council in coming weeks, with a report expected to go before councillors in March.

If approved by council, it is expected to be ready for the 2021 season, with the club requiring two years for construction and to secure liquor and gaming machine licences.

Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly last night confirmed the plans to the Gold Coast Bulletin and said it would be based on the same model as that of the North Queensland Cowboys – a separate football and community club.

“A community club was an integral part of the case we presented to the NRL as a sustainable model for the Titans,” he said.

“The owners want to continue and hopefully grow that involvement and we believed those objectives fitted well within the community club objectives …The community club directors will also be focused on becoming integrated into the local community and support sporting, cultural clubs and charities.”

Mr Kelly said the facility would create 80 new jobs.

Any community lease agreement reached by the club and council would be a similar to those in place with Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club at Pizzey Park, Broadbeach Bowls and Community Club and Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.

Mr Dickson noted there was a range of key issues to consider including social and financial aspects as well as the loss of recreational space.

Council staff have begun a preliminary assessment of these impacts as well as developing a masterplan for the site, which is used by the Oxenford Men’s Shed, Coomera-Hope Island Cricket Club and local schools.