KINGSTON councillors will debate in the new year the benefits of helping Hawthorn foot its touted $100 million bill to develop a world-class facility at Dingley.
The Hawks' returning president, Jeff Kennett, put that enormous price tag on the record at last week's AGM, after earlier estimates ranged between $30 million and $60 million.
Kennett said Hawthorn would not start construction until it raised "about half" of the $100 million, and comes as the former Victorian premier looks at ways to replace the club's pokies-generated income.
The City of Kingston, located about 20km south of Melbourne's CBD, is set to be home to two AFL clubs, with St Kilda preparing to move back to Moorabbin in 2018.
The situations are different, with the Hawks purchasing their 28-hectare site – a former landfill – for $7.75 million in April this year, whereas the Saints are leasing council land for about $70,000 per annum.
Kingston Council is contributing $4 million to St Kilda's $30 million move from Seaford, but that owes to the club sharing its upgraded facilities with various local sporting clubs and leagues.
A similar commitment for Hawthorn would depend on the Hawks' willingness to swing open their doors for local user groups, according to Kingston mayor Steve Staikos.
The State Government also chipped in $12 million for the Saints.
"Council hasn't really discussed exactly the proposition when it comes to Hawthorn," Cr Staikos told AFL.com.au.
"It will be based on what we can get for the community. I'm not ruling it out or ruling it in.
"I'm one of nine councillors and, as a team, we'll need to talk about it to see whether there's value in a proposal for the community."
Cr Staikos met with Hawks officials in recent weeks and will do so again early next year to be briefed on the club's vision for the site, which borders Old Dandenong and Tootal Rds.
A bird's eye view of the site. Picture: hawthornfc.com.au
There have already been discussions about Hawthorn hosting AFLW matches at the venue if and when it secures a licence into the fledgling competition.
Kingston Council assisted the Hawks with a planning scheme amendment that enables them to use the Dingley site for sports and social activities, as well as advertising at the ground and nearby.
"Those two things are not permitted in Kingston's Green Wedge, so that's why we had a special planning scheme amendment to allow them to do that," Cr Staikos said.
"It's not expected that we're going to allow anything unsightly, like large billboards on Tootal Rd.
"But it is Hawthorn Football Club. They are one of the most recognised brands in the football world and they are going to have quite a presence in Dingley and we expect there to be visual signage.
"They have said they are respectful of the setting they're in, and the plans that have been adopted include landscape and vegetation plantings across the whole site."
Kennett said planning for the Dingley site would factor in both Hawthorn's and the community's needs.
He highlighted the three basketball courts set to be built as insufficient for local requirements, comparing it to "building a freeway with only one lane".
"We have done a great deal of design work. We have got to bring together, we estimate at this stage, about $100 million, in order to complete the facility as we would like," Kennett said.
"It is without a doubt a wonderful piece of land … (with) plenty of room for expansion.
"We've actually got to build it, not only for today, but for tomorrow (and) we've got to get the funds right."
Triple premiership ruckman Don Scott was the first, in May, to publicly suggest the Hawks' Dingley investment could blow out to $100 million, when he questioned where the money would come from.
