Baird Govt sets up super trust board to bring an end to billion-dollar Moore Park stadium war
by: John Lehmann Editor at Large
June 22, 2015 12:00AM
ITS the titanic sporting struggle set to make State of Origin look like a CWA tea party.
Headlined by some of Sydneys highest flyers is the fight for a seat at the table of what will be one of Australias most powerful sports bodies.
The prizes will be seats on a new super trust board being set up by the Baird government to bring an end to the billion-dollar stadium war.
The government has still not decided how $600 million set aside for modernising Sydneys stadiums will be split between Moore Parks *Allianz Stadium, Sydney Olympic Parks ANZ Stadium and Parramattas Pirtek Stadium.
No funding details will be included in the state Budget but the Homebush Bay venue will receive a boost with the government to announce its support for a Parramatta to Strathfield light rail system, running through Sydney Olympic Park.
The government is also pushing ahead with plans to buy out ANZ Stadiums private operators and set up a new super stadium trust to finalise the funding split and manage Sydneys major sports venues.
But sources said the new trust would be far smaller than the existing 14-member Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, meaning some powerbrokers will lose influence.
Some business operators familiar with ANZ Stadium possibly NRMA director Wendy Machin, ANZ Stadium Advisory Board chairman Robert Webster and Venues NSW boss John Quayle will sit on the new trust, expected to be announced next month.
The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust chairman Tony Shepherd also president of the Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL team, based at Homebush is likely to lead the new trust.
Other members of the SCG trust include powerful broadcaster Alan Jones, Destination NSW chairman John Hartigan, Sydney Olympics bid boss Rod McGeoch, Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page and cricket great Steve Waugh.
You would think five or six people would be enough on the super trust, one government source said.
The SCG trust is likely to be scaled back in size once the super trust is put in place.
A high-level source said the issue was complicated as sports fans who are members of the Sydney Cricket Ground and ANZ Stadium have guaranteed rights to elect trustees.
Cricket great Steve Waugh and SCG Trust member Steve Waugh. Source: News Limited
Ex-Wallaby Phil Waugh and cricketer Dave Gilbert were elected to the SCG trust last year, while Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer is a director on the ANZ Stadium Members board.
The stadium funding battle has split Sydneys sports bosses. The cricket ground trust, sport minister Stuart Ayres and NRL chief Dave Smith lobbied for about $1.3 billion, of which $800 million would be spent building a new 65,000-seat stadium on parkland at Moore Park. This new venue would replace the 45,500-seat Allianz Stadium.
But the plan drew widespread anger when revealed in The Daily Telegraph, forcing Mr Ayres and UrbanGrowth NSW chairman John Brogden, to delay their report to cabinet.
FOR NEW 65,000-SEAT MOORE PARK STADIUM
1. Stuart Ayres, NSW Sports Minister: Wants $1.3 billion invested in new stadiums at Moore Park and Parramatta.
2. John Brogden, UrbanGrowth chairman: Was set to recommend new Moore Park stadium be built before plans leaked and his report delayed.
3. John Singleton, 2GB radio investor: part-owner of neighbouring EQ; says govt should blow up Sydney Olympic Park.
4. Katie Page, Harvey Norman CEO: Trustee; part-owner of neighbouring Entertainment Quarter.
Gerry Harvey, Harvey Norman executive chairman: part-owner of neighbouring Entertainment Quarter.
5. Dave Smith, NRL CEO: Provided $750,000 to help fund new design concept for Moore Park.
6. Gerry Harvey, Harvey Norman executive chairman, part owner of neighbouring Entertainment Quarter.
7. Alan Jones, Trustee and 2GB broadcaster: privately lobbying Baird Ministers for Trust.
8. Tony Shepherd, Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust chairman: Pushing for $800 million for new Moore Park stadium.
9. Rod McGeoch, Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust deputy chairman; privately lobbying for Trust.
10. Nick Politis, Sydney Roosters chairman: supports new Moore Park stadium to become Roosters home ground.
Other Trustees include former Test cricketers Steve Waugh and Stuart MacGill, ex-Wallaby Phil Waugh, SBS chairman Nihal Gupta and businessmen Richard Colless and Maurice Newman.
Frank Lowy has no come out in support of the new stadium. Picture: Richard Dobson
Frank Lowy has no come out in support of the new stadium. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: News Corp Australia
AGAINST NEW 65,000-SEAT MOORE PARK STADIUM
1. Frank Lowy & 2. David Gallop, Football Federation Australia bosses: believe Sydney needs stadium like ANZ with at least 75,000 capacity to compete with MCG for major events.
3. John Coates: International Olympic Committee vice-president; arranged for IOC president Thomas Bach to visit ANZ to show support.
4. Russell Crowe & 6. James Packer, South Sydney Rabbitohs owners: Rabbitohs CEO John Lee met with Premier to offer strong support to ANZ.
7. Ray Dib & 8. Raelene Castle, Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs bosses: organised urgent meeting with Premier to support ANZ.
8. Ray Hadley, 2GB host and Nine league commentator: strongly disagrees with 2GB colleagues Singleton and Jones.
9. Malcolm Turnbull, Communications Minister & local federal MP: told Stuart Ayres of his serious concerns about lack of planning procedures.
10. Ita Buttrose and Tony Ryan, Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust directors: say Moore Park stadium plan fundamentally inappropriate.
11. Steve Mortimer, ANZ Stadium Members board director, the NSW Origin legend says ANZ should be redeveloped into Australias best rectangular stadium.
12. David Borger, Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney director: believes Parramatta light-rail will turbocharge Sydney Olympic Park.
13. Darryl Kerry, ANZ Stadium CEO
