The mood was overwhelmingly positive as the Woolooware Bay Town Centre, a joint project between the Sharks and Bluestone Capital, became a reality at the official ‘ground breaking’ ceremony yesterday.
An excavator was brought in to conduct the ceremonial ‘dig’ of the first sod, shortly after dignitaries including Sharks Chairman Damian Keogh, Bluestone Managing Director Ben Fairfax and Sutherland Shire Mayor Kent Johns had addressed the audience of club stakeholders, current and former Sharks Board Members, supporters of the project and purchasers of the residential apartments.
It was a important event and one which signified the Woolooware Bay project, located on land adjacent to Remondis Stadium and owned by the Sharks, was officially underway.
“Today is a great win for the Sharks and the Shire,” Mayor Kent Johns said. “Woolooware Bay will be the Sutherland Shire's newest waterfront town centre. Plans for the new residential estate contain pools, recreation spaces and home gardens, with the retail centre generating full time jobs and opportunities that are invaluable to this community.
Fairfax expressed that the ground breaking marked a great milestone for the project, which started back in 2011.
“We’ve been honoured and privileged to be involved in this important project for the Shire. Working with the Sharks, we’ve already created a development that responds strongly to its local community, delivering a place that will provide much-needed retail amenity, and a range of housing options,” Fairfax said.
Keogh, while acknowledging the efforts of past Boards and Board members, spoke of the potential for the development to revitalise the local area and to guarantee the future the club.
"This development will help to ensure the longer term financial viability of the Sharks in the NRL. Coming off two of the most challenging years in the clubs history, we look forward to a successful future on and off the field,” he said.
Sharks TV was on hand to capture the festivities surrounding the ground breaking event, catching up with a few of those most influential in making this dream become a reality.
Watch and enjoy the highlights of the Woolooware Bay ‘ground breaking’ ceremony, a significant moment in Sharks history.
