MEDIA STATEMENT
For immediate release: Wednesday, 13 February 2008

The iconic Frankston Park Grandstand was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours this morning (Wednesday, 13 February 2008).

Frankston City Mayor, Councillor Alistair Wardle said: "Obviously this is a big loss for the local community and the Frankston Dolphins Football Club. The Grandstand represented a significant part of Frankston's heritage and culture."

The historic grandstand, one of three originally constructed in 1936 for the World Scout Jamboree, was fully refurbished by Frankston City Council in 2005 at a cost of $610,000.

"Both St Kilda Football Club and Council are 100 per cent behind the Frankston Dolphins Football Club. Council will work with the club to ensure its business as usual from a football perspective," Cr Wardle said

"Council will sit down with all key stakeholders, including the Dolphins and St Kilda in the immediate future to discuss options for the way forward

"We won't speculate on the cause of the fire and will await the results of the investigations being carried out by the police and fire brigade."

The grandstand is insured and Council has notified its insurers.

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Media Contacts:
Silvia Van Orsouw, Frankston City Council, 0408 580 114