Council will seek community feedback on the ongoing management of Central Coast Stadium.
The move comes just months after Council knocked back a proposal from the Mariners football club to take over the management.
Council said the unsolicited proposal did not meet the “uniqueness criterion” of stage one of Council’s policy on unsolicited proposals.
So it was not deemed appropriate to go to the next stage with the proposal.
However, the stadium business strategy draft was put on hold while Council dealt with the proposal.
At the August 10 meeting, Council adopted the Draft Business Strategy, for public exhibition, but noted that on August 4 the owner of the Central Coast Mariners, Mike Charlesworth, announced his intention to sell the club.
“This creates uncertainty both on the future of the Mariners, as the Stadium’s anchor tenant, on the Central Coast and whether the Mariners would be able to respond on an Expression of Interest process in the current environment,” CEO Gary Murphy said in an update to councillors on August 7.
“Council staff still recommend that Council commence the process to seek Expressions of Interest from suitably experienced parties to manage and operate the Central Coast Stadium.
“Council staff will require time to prepare for the expression process, and it will also be important to signal to the market (and prospective buyers of the Mariners) that it is still Council’s intention to look at alternative management models.
“However, staff will undertake further analysis on the optimal time to call for the Expressions of Interest and will update Council on this, with the objective to ensure that there is some clarity on the future of the anchor tenant before Expressions of Interest are called (and to) enable the Mariners, if they so wish, to participate in any Expressions of Interest process.”
The strategy defines the facility’s vision, purpose and strategic objectives as well as the value of a naming rights sponsor.
Deputy Mayor Jane Smith said Central Coast Stadium was an important community asset that delivered significant economic and social benefits for the region.
“We have a great stadium in an incredible location, complete with views over Brisbane Water,” Cr Smith said.
“The Stadium is one of our most important community assets and we want to ensure it remains as a focal point of community pride in our region.
“Central Coast Stadium has already hosted and continues to attract great events, even during these most challenging of times, and we want to ensure it reaches its full potential.”
Council will start the process of seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably experienced parties to manage and operate Central Coast Stadium, which has a 20,000 capacity, including options such as Public Private Partnerships or other innovative opportunities.
Following a Request for Tender for naming rights sponsorship Council will also receive a confidential report for consideration before deciding whether to appoint a naming rights sponsor for the Stadium.
The Draft Central Coast Stadium Business Strategy will go on public exhibition for 28 days and Council will receive a report which summarises community feedback.
The Stadium was built in 1999 and opened in 2000.
It was managed by a private operator Central Coast Stadium Pty Limited until 2014, when the management rights were handed back to Gosford Council.
A review into the management and strategy for the Stadium after two years of internal management was postponed due to the merger and creation of Central Coast Council in 2016.
Merilyn Vale