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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/el...-sydney-stadiums/story-fnii5s3y-1227127769990
Electricity sale to fund upgrade of Sydney stadiums
Andrew Clennell and Miles Godfrey
The Daily Telegraph
November 19, 2014 7:37AM
THREE Sydney stadiums, *Allianz, ANZ and Parramatta, are set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars worth of upgrades in the Baird governments infrastructure plan to be released next month.
Senior government sources confirmed Premier Mike Baird will take to the election a promise to upgrade all three stadiums, if the states electricity networks are sold.
But ANZs push for $250 million in taxpayers money to go towards its $350 million upgrade will not be fully met, a source said.
The State Infrastructure Strategy is not expected to *include money to build a new stadium in Penrith, which is being pushed by local MP and Sport Minister Stuart Ayres, and the Penrith Panthers.
A final decision on where a new western stadium should be built Liverpool Council is also proposing a site near the new Western Sydney airport will not be made until after the state election.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed ANZs proposal to upgrade Sydneys biggest stadium to enable fans to sit within 5m of the sports action and build a *retractable roof.
The plan won approval from South Sydney Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson, who urged the government to back the ANZ revamp.
The sooner they can make the decision the better, so we can get on with it, Mr Richardson said.
But NRL chief Dave Smith declined to back ANZ.
The NRL will continue to work with the NSW government on what is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get stadiums investment right, an NRL spokeswoman said.
The powerful Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust is also lobbying for $250 million to be spent modernising the 44,000-seat Allianz Stadium at Moore Park.
A turf war erupted yesterday when Parramatta MP Geoff Lee took a shot at Penriths stadium campaign.
Nobody wants to go to Penrith. I mean, Im sure some people do but if youre talking about a geographic and transport hub Parramatta makes more sense, he said.
Mr Lee, billionaire Frank Lowy and Western Sydney Wanderers owner Paul Lederer are urging the government to turn Parramatta Stadium into a 32,000-seat venue as part of a $120 million revamp. Around $29 million is being spent installing 4000 new seats a reflection of the Wanderers rise over the past two seasons.
Penrith Panthers have been lobbying the government to help build a new $500 million complex on the site of the existing Sportingbet Stadium.