12 hours ago, stinga said:

I used to go Yabbying in the dam on the racecourse when I was a kid. So I thought I go and have a word with the yabbies who have been there longer than the rest of us and have more of an idea what was happening. He said they have been snake free and terribly concerned of an influx of snakes from Casey. They have applied for a declaration of certainty from the MRC, Glen Eira, the schools and state government, that this will remain a snake free environment. They understand it will go ahead and agreed for any aquatic recovery sessions to take place in the ponds.

This source is as good as any other on this topic

Can the club get a letter of comfort from the MRC and State Government that carves out an exception for Jake the Snake?

Preferably a snakey iron clad assurance from the outgoing minister that they will pay the club in full for the facility whether it gets built or not?

10 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Does it matter? Given the revolving door and the place, by the time it eventually gets approved, many more will probably have come and gone

Is the door even revolving..... or is it closing

Edited February 1Feb 1 by beelzebub
Auto grrrr

Just like the supposed airport rail link we're meant to get here in Melbourne, I'm sick of hearing about this training facility.

Just tell me when it's completed

Article in the Age today with respect to the AO and Craig Tiley's grand plan

"Magpies open to vacating nest to help Australian Open keep growing"

"With the Melbourne Football Club highly likely to relocate this year as at least a short-to-medium-term move to Waverley after Hawthorn’s shift to Dingley, there would be scope for Collingwood to temporarily train at Gosch’s Paddock and potentially use the gym facilities at AAMI Park."

Grrrrr those Magpies always win !!!!

An attraction to moving to accommodate tennis’ growth would be a new income stream from the significant short-term rent, but also the scope for the club to have facilities built by tennis for the Open which could then be used by the club for the remainder of the year. That could include enhanced infrastructure for fans and viewing around the training ground.

On 01/02/2026 at 17:36, Diamond_Jim said:

Tennis wanting Gosch's paddock may be the best thing that ever happened.

The State will fund it to the hilt and will throw us the bones necessary to establish Caulfield. Moreover it will make everyone move at light speed.

I wonder what Old Scotch got for their oval in exchange for moving to Camberwell.

The way this is going it's more likely we get notice to vacate...and nothing else.

1 hour ago, dees189227 said:

Just like the supposed airport rail link we're meant to get here in Melbourne, I'm sick of hearing about this training facility.

Just tell me when it's completed

Ok but you may not hear from us for 2-3 years. Is that ok?

14 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Is the door even revolving..... or is it closing

It's firmly shut till a state government either approves or not

IMO it won't be any time before the next election in November.

On 01/02/2026 at 14:30, bluey said:

I’m Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust chairman Sam Almaliki said once Melbourne “secure funding and are prepared to actually deliver the project”, they would need to enter into a lease agreement with the trust, who manage the precinct.

“Their biggest sticking point isn’t about what is happening with the school or anybody – their biggest sticking point is that they haven’t been able to raise the funding needed to deliver this project,” Almaliki said.

“The trust’s major interest in this project, whether it is Melbourne Football Club or anybody, is to see funding that improves facilities and community access to those facilities, including the two football ovals that would go in – because they would be made available for community use as well as the football club. That’s our interest in this.

Sam made this statement last August, ongoing meetings between Brad and state government continue..

We have 15 mill in the bank. And are confident another 15 could be raised by donations.

Leaving a 70 million black hole for the Government to fill.

It would be a long shot in an election year, in my opinion.

Just food for thought, A country fire truck is worth $840k, we could probably do with eighty of those, so yes gifting 70 million to a minor sporting club is a big deal.

The way people are talking about this you’d think the Melbourne Football Club is writing a $100m cheque tomorrow. That’s not how major infrastructure works. These facilities are financed — typically via long-term debt — and repaid over 20–30 years, just like every stadium, hospital or university building on the planet. The lack of basic financial literacy in this thread is staggering.

10 hours ago, Oxdee said:

The lack of basic financial literacy in this thread is staggering.

Yes Oxdee I too am bewildered at the lack of knowledge about the intricacies of infrastructure funding on a fan forum about footy...

2 hours ago, praha said:

Yes Oxdee I too am bewildered at the lack of knowledge about the intricacies of infrastructure funding on a fan forum about footy...

It can’t be much harder than building on the sims surely. Point and click

On 31/01/2026 at 10:35, Cranky Franky said:

Sadly most Demonlanders will be well & truly deceased before anything of substance happens.

Could be, and joining those of us who already are!😎

Edited February 3Feb 3 by Dr Don Duffy

17 hours ago, Oxdee said:

The way people are talking about this you’d think the Melbourne Football Club is writing a $100m cheque tomorrow. That’s not how major infrastructure works. These facilities are financed — typically via long-term debt — and repaid over 20–30 years, just like every stadium, hospital or university building on the planet. The lack of basic financial literacy in this thread is staggering.

Politics is about optics and perception.

It will be described as an $Xmillion gift to an elite sporting club that reduces public access at a time when the budget is stretched and State taxes are the highest in the land.

There is zero benefit to the Allan government unless you can tie it to community benefit.

BTW get ready for the Casey backlash or as they say... why should we get more money when we already have Casey which at least is a growing area

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Politics is about optics and perception.

It will be described as an $Xmillion gift to an elite sporting club that reduces public access at a time when the budget is stretched and State taxes are the highest in the land.

There is zero benefit to the Allan government unless you can tie it to community benefit.

BTW get ready for the Casey backlash or as they say... why should we get more money when we already have Casey which at least is a growing area

If the marketing teams from the State, the AFL or our club can't sell this as a net win for all then I'll come and do it for free. We're talking about building a couple of ovals and an admin/training base on a piece of land that currently is used to employ a mower man.

Its not about punters financial literacy. Mine's fine, thanks for caring.

This is, never was about money.... that grows on trees and is accessible when required if..IF ...the deal stacks up.

We obviously don't have that deal. Thats the problem imho. We have intent, a few nudge nudge winks... possibly a backroom "well if you do this we'll do that etc"..

But there is an impediment... I sense it's not just a what but more a who.

This isn't that [censored]hard... not really... its a [censored] oval or two and a warehouse with a glorified atco hut attached.

We can't be anywhere close.....or they'd all be lining up to chirp.

This has been derailed.

I wait.

Edited February 3Feb 3 by beelzebub

On 05/01/2026 at 10:11, Blind_turn said:

For all of us frustrated with the lack of news on Caulfield, I suggest we focus our attention on a deal to be struck between Deakin Uni and Mt Scopus Burwood.

This is the key - and in my humble view, it will happen.

If you look at the map below. A new SRL station next to Deakin will be a reality (eventually), Deakin Burwood campus is landlocked, but the Mt Scopus Burwood campus next door is up for sale. The proceeds to be used to fund the school's Caulfield ambitions.

MFC's new development cannot proceed until this deal is done.

2 hours ago, monoccular said:

  On 05/01/2026 at 10:11, Blind_turn said:

For all of us frustrated with the lack of news on Caulfield, I suggest we focus our attention on a deal to be struck between Deakin Uni and Mt Scopus Burwood.

the question is where will deakin get the money from. It will be substantial and the feds aren't just going to gift it.

the answer is those uni sports grounds along elgar road, slap in the middle of the new rail loop high development zone

the mt scopus site has existing sports grounds to replace them, and still provide a big area for deakin expansion (already including good existing teaching facilities).

no brainer

30 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

the question is where will deakin get the money from. It will be substantial and the feds aren't just going to gift it.

the answer is those uni sports grounds along elgar road, slap in the middle of the new rail loop high development zone

the mt scopus site has existing sports grounds to replace them, and still provide a big area for deakin expansion (already including good existing teaching facilities).

no brainer

Which sports grounds on Elgar Rd are you talking about?

On 05/01/2026 at 17:27, Madz said:

Thats always going to be the case... How does one come up with $30m? Private equity? Where is the payback.

Payback can come from an innovative entertainment, corporate, retail facility as transport hub with training grounds as a greenfield destination site in Port Melbourne. Unfortunately that train may have left the station.

On 02/02/2026 at 21:04, Oxdee said:

The way people are talking about this you’d think the Melbourne Football Club is writing a $100m cheque tomorrow. That’s not how major infrastructure works. These facilities are financed — typically via long-term debt — and repaid over 20–30 years, just like every stadium, hospital or university building on the planet. The lack of basic financial literacy in this thread is staggering.

Suggest the same "basic financial literacy" may have been the reluctance to pursue Fishermans Bend Port Melbourne sites.

6 hours ago, rjay said:

Which sports grounds on Elgar Rd are you talking about?

on the above map, the area between the highlighted deakin campus, to the left, and along elgar road opposite plc. It is part of deakin.

On 02/02/2026 at 10:04, Oxdee said:

The way people are talking about this you’d think the Melbourne Football Club is writing a $100m cheque tomorrow. That’s not how major infrastructure works. These facilities are financed — typically via long-term debt — and repaid over 20–30 years, just like every stadium, hospital or university building on the planet. The lack of basic financial literacy in this thread is staggering.

Financing literacy aside, the issue many people are raising isn’t confusion about debt structures, it’s accountability. When public land, government involvement, and long-term planning are in play, the conversation necessarily extends beyond balance sheets to the constituents who are affected by the decision.

2 hours ago, daisycutter said:

on the above map, the area between the highlighted deakin campus, to the left, and along elgar road opposite plc. It is part of deakin.

Thanks, they are a fair way off Elgar Rd that's why I wasn't sure what you meant (thought Surrey Park or Elgar Park at first as hadn't seen the map)...but yep I know the grounds, have played there a number of times.

Not sure they are part of Deakin or council owned.

On Deakin I know they've been looking to buy up properties around Stott and Cardona St for a while, maybe the purchase of Mount Scopus makes their expansion easier.

Edited February 3Feb 3 by rjay

17 minutes ago, rjay said:

Thanks, they are a fair way off Elgar Rd that's why I wasn't sure what you meant (thought Surrey Park or Elgar Park at first as hadn't seen the map)...but yep I know the grounds, have played there a number of times.

Not sure they are part of Deakin or council owned.

On Deakin I know they've been looking to buy up properties around Stott and Cardona St for a while, maybe the purchase of Mount Scopus makes the expansion easier.

Deakin have poured a heap of $$ into their facility for Geelong footy club at the Waurn Ponds campus. Couldn’t see them wanting to be involved with us.

7 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Deakin have poured a heap of $$ into their facility for Geelong footy club at the Waurn Ponds campus. Couldn’t see them wanting to be involved with us.

How would Deakin be involved with us ? 🤷