NSW: Canterbury Bulldogs defend decision to leave Oasis dev.
SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - Sydney's Canterbury Bulldogs today defended their decision topull out of the development of the controversial $900 million Oasis Project.
The sport and leisure complex, in Sydney's south-west, was a joint venture with LiverpoolCouncil and Macquarie Bank.
"It's best for an established property developer and financier such as Macquarie Bankto do the development," said Norman Taska, Marketing and Media Manger for the CanterburyBulldogs.
"Over many meetings we tried to find a way to make this thing work and this is thebest way to do it."
The Bulldogs, who were recently at the centre of a rugby league salary capping scandal,would maintain a presence in sporting and community developments through a revamped SportingFoundation.
The proposed Oasis development was for a 35,000-seat football stadium, indoor basketballstadium, ice-rink, water park, 2,500 apartments and a club.
The development has been shrouded in controversy with allegations that $900,000 wastaken out of council-provided funding.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), has been investigating the projectsince early November.
ICAC's findings are due in March 2003.
"At the moment we're looking seriously at retrieving (from the Bulldogs) any moneypaid that would be seen as irregular," said acting Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller.
"We would be looking to talk to the Bulldogs about how that would be refunded," MayorWaller told ABC Radio.
"I understand there is a substantial amount of money involved."
The withdrawal of the Bulldogs was welcomed by Mayor Waller.
"The Bulldogs basically looked at their own situation and made a crucial and very responsibledecision," the mayor said.
"I believe their expertise is in the sporting area."
Liverpool Council are still negotiating with Macquarie Bank about the developments future.
Mayor Waller is determined for some form of development to take place.
"Given the level of investment council has put into the project it would be a totallyirresponsible point to walk away," she said.
Liverpool Council has already invested $15 million in the project.
AAP sek/arb/hu/mo
KEYWORD: OASIS
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