'End of the Road' for legal obstacles aimed at halting demolition of the Sydney Football Stadium

A last-ditch attempt to prevent the demolition of Sydney's Allianz Stadium failed today after advocacy body Local Democracy Matters group lost its latest legal appeal.

The NSW Land and Environment Court last week ruled that the NSW Government did not breach its own planning rules for the project and that the demolition of the venue otherwise known as Sydney Football Stadium could proceed.

The plans for Allianz Stadium, along with other sports facilities in Sydney, have proved a political battleground ahead of the 23rd March NSW state election with the Labor and Greens parties having both been strongly opposed to the redevelopment masterplan for the Moore Park precinct.

In the wake of last week’s ruling, Local Democracy Matters, which is supported by the Greens, took to the NSW Court of Appeal. However, following a four-hour expedited hearing, the appeal was rejected today.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Justice Mark Leeming advised “all members of the court are of the view that the appeal should be dismissed.”

In response, Greens MP David Shoebridge conceded today’s ruling represented the “end of the legal road”, adding “(NSW Premier) Gladys Berejiklian will be known as the wrecking ball of NSW politics. The wreckers will go in, the stadium’s going to be destroyed.”

Local Democracy Matters Treasurer Chris Maltby stated “I think the moral case here is incredibly strong. It’s up to the people of NSW to pass judgment on this project in the next week.”

The NSW Government plans on demolishing the 30-year old Allianz Stadium and building a new 45,000-seat stadium.

Both the current and new stadia have been designed by Cox Architecture.

Image: Cox Architecture's design for the new Sydney Football Stadium.