Sports stadia: Sydney on to a real winner with $1.85 billion revolution
15 HOURS AGO AUGUST 19, 2015 12:00AM
THREE new Sydney sports arenas including an $800 million, 55,000-seat venue to replace Moore Parks Allianz stadium would be built under the findings of a confidential government report.
A new $150 million indoor arena for tennis, basketball and netball is also recommended for construction near Sydneys CBD, along with a $300 million, 30,000-seat venue at Parramatta to *replace Pirtek Stadium.
The report, written by *former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden for the Baird government, outlines a $1.85 billion Sydney stadium plan to be implemented over more than a decade.
It recommends $300 million be spent on Homebushs ANZ Stadium in about seven years time, either fully roofing the 83,500-seat mega-venue or moving lower-level seats closer to the field.
The report, expected to be considered by Premier Mike Bairds Cabinet within the next month, calls on sporting codes such as the NRL and Football Federation Australia to help fund the Sydney stadium upgrades.
Mr Baird has been focused on limiting stadium expenditure to $600 million but well-placed sources said the state government was now exploring how further funds could be raised.
If you only spend $600 million youre just sprinkling around a bit of fairy dust you wont be building the world-class stadiums Sydney needs to compete with Melbourne and other cities, one source said.
Mr Brogden also suggested the government sell off surplus land at Sydney Olympic Park, which could raise about $50 million.
He also said a super trust should be set up to manage the stadium network and borrow monies needed to help fund construction.
The plan, which is believed to be supported by Sport Minister Stuart Ayres, would see the outdated Allianz Stadium at Moore Park demolished.
The 27-year-old stadium would be replaced with a hi-tech, 55,000 to 60,000 seat venue which would become Australias biggest purpose-built rectangular stadium, superseding Brisbanes Suncorp Stadium.
The new stadium, which would be connected to the CBD by light rail, would be built on the existing Allianz site, with work projected to start in three years. It could be completed by 2020.
Mr Brogden has backed away from building the new venue on parklands after The Daily Telegraph revealed the proposal in May, triggering anger from local residents and the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.
Te recommendation for a 10,000 to 12,000-seat indoor stadium is believed to be winning support among the Premiers key advisers.
The most likely location is Wentworth Park, where greyhounds presently race.
Any work at ANZ Stadium, the Sydney 2000 Olympics arena, would not begin until after the new Allianz venue was completed.
Mr Brogden, who declined to comment on his report yesterday, is believed to favour fully roofing ANZ to increase its all-weather appeal for international music acts and indoor conventions.
This would give Sydney the biggest, fully roofed venue in Australia, a source said.
The new Parramatta stadium, home to the Western Wanderers and the Parramatta Eels, would be the first venue completed.
The Brogden report also envisages the need for *another $300 million, 30,000-seat stadium servicing *Western Sydney in 10 years or more but did not nominate a site.
Possible locations could include Liverpool, Campbelltown and Penrith.
