Demolition works will start early next year on Simonds Stadium's Doug Wade Stand after the Geelong Football Club received the green light to build its $49 million stand.
 
The State Government yesterday granted the Cats an early Christmas present an additional $1.5 million to pave the way for the construction of the new stand.

Geelong came within just days of being forced to postpone or even abandon the upgrade after discovering a $12 million shortfall in the tender process.

The club was forced to scale back plans for stage three of the redevelopment cutting capacity by 1000 seats, removing a supporters' lounge and downgrading from concrete to steel to press ahead.

Cats chief executive officer Brian Cook revealed in November the club fell $4 million short and faced the real prospect of deferring works for a year.

The State Government yesterday confirmed it had approved in principle a request from the Geelong Football Club for additional funding, taking its total contribution to $26.5 million.

It clears the way for the current Doug Wade Stand to be demolished in the second week of January.

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View artists impressions of the new stand >>