Tigers to leave Punt Road if oval redevelopment is knocked back

The Richmond Tigers say they’ll leave Punt Road Oval if their proposed $65 million overhaul of the site is knocked back.

The Melbourne City Council’s Future Melbourne committee will meet tonight to vote on the application, which includes demolishing the historic Jack Dyer Stand, the reorientation of the oval and redevelopment of other facilities.

The redevelopment would double the oval’s spectator capacity.

Deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece says councillors must balance the heritage that’ll be lost by demolishing the Jack Dyer stand, which was built in 1914, with the community benefits associated with the proposed new facilities.

He says those benefits are “quite significant”.

“I want to know a little bit more about the community facilities,” he told 3AW Breakfast.

“They are reorienting the oval so it’ll be the same size as the MCG, which the players think is important. There’s new professional facilities going in there, particularly for female players, a new Aboriginal transition centre. There’s also an underground carpark going in, which will take cars out the Yarra Park.

“We’ve got to weigh that up against the heritage value of the Jack Dyer Stand and of course the overall significance of the oval as well. Of course this was the place where the first AFL game was played back in 1858.”

Press PLAY below for details on the proposed Punt Road Oval redevelopment

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