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The Facilities Lease at Tompkins Park, at which the Palmyra Rugby Club is the Principal Tenant, has been terminated effective from the 30th September of this year.
The Gillard Government intends to redevelop the Tompkins Park’s site for low cost housing under it’s Affordable Housing Scheme.
There have been ongoing negotiations between the Federal Department of Housing, the Melville City Council and the club over the last 18 months, with final agreement being negotiated this week
The Club will be compensated for the loss of their prime high profile facilities by a once off payment of $5,000,000.00 to assist in relocation expenses and construction costs, and a further $5,000,000.00 to be paid over seven years by annual instalments.
The State Department of Sport and Recreation has been assisting the club in locating an alternative home at Tom Perrott Reserve in McCabe Road, Mosman Park, the old Mosman Park Rugby League Club Ground. Construction of the new facilities at Tom Perrott Reserve is expected to commence in July this year.
It is believed that Palmyra has negotiated a 30 year Lease at a peppercorn rental over the site, ownership of which will remain with the Mosman Park Town Council. In return Palmyra will fund the construction of community facilities on the site, similar to those at Tompkins Park at a cost of 3.9 million dollars. In addition, Palmyra will re-erect the old Rugby WA Perry Lakes Grandstand at the new grounds. The Club has had the Grandstand in storage for several years since the demolition of the Perry Lakes facilities.
Club spokesman Jay Gillett said today that “whilst the Club was sad to move from its current premises, which it has occupied for the last twelve years, the opportunity and financial benefit of the deal was too good to resist in the end result”.
“With a guaranteed income of $5,000,000.00 over 7 years, and the facilities fully constructed and fitted out, with change left over, the Club will be able to secure the services of whatever players it needs in future years and fund it’s Junior Development Program without having to worry about the costs involved” .
“We will be the biggest Club north of the river within three years” Mr Gillett predicted “and the most financially secure”.