Inner West Council questions NSW Government’s stadium funding

With a reported dispute over funding for major venues between NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Chairman Peter V’Landys currently obsessing Sydney’s media, Inner West Council has questioned the NSW Government’s stadium funding priorities.

Having repeatedly changed policies for more than a decade on whether or not to fund redevelopments at Sydney’s suburban stadia and the Accor (former ANZ) Stadium, the NSW Government announced in December last year that fund the development of a new rectangular stadium in Penrith.

Following the success of the CommBank Stadium in Parramatta and with the Allianz Stadium in Moore Park soon to be completed, the $300 million funding commitment to build a new stadium in the Penrith electorate of outgoing NSW Tourism and Sport Minister Stuart Ayres (who resigned today) Stadium has been criticised by the Inner West Council.

In a media release issued today, the Council advise “despite numerous commitments to fund suburban sports grounds, Dominic Perrottet has opted instead to spend upward of $300 million to build Penrith Stadium in an attempt to try and save the marginal seat of embattled former Minister Stuart Ayres.

“The rebuilt Penrith Stadium will host the Penrith Panthers to play 11 games a year while the once again neglected Leichhardt Oval hosts more than 50 games a year across various codes including NRL, NRLW, A-League Football, Women’s A-League, Super Rugby, Shute Shield Rugby, schoolboy rugby, junior rugby league and various other community sporting organisations.”

Specifically, Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne stated “Dominic Perrottet is happy to spend $300 million in Stuart Ayres seat, to build a shiny, new Panthers Stadium for the exclusive use of one club. But the Wests Tigers, and all of the other senior and junior, men’s and women’s Rugby League, Soccer and Rugby Union teams who regularly use Leichhardt Oval get nothing.

“I call on Mr Perrottet to explain why this shocking pork-barrelling continues while most footy fans across Sydney get dudded?

“If Dom Perrottet is brave enough to leave the corporate box and come on to the Wayne Pearce Hill at the Tigers next home game, he’s going to get a very frosty reception from the fans.”

Inner West Deputy Mayor, Jessica D’Arienzo added "we are not looking to build a brand-new stadium, we are simply asking for some help to provide decent facilities for the fans and athletes who use Leichhardt Oval.

“With a fraction of what’s been earmarked for Stuart Ayres’ seat, we can build an upgraded and expanded grandstand, decent catering and toilet facilities for patrons and female-friendly dressing rooms while preserving the heritage Wayne Pearce Hill and Keith Barnes Grandstand.”

Images: Leichhardt Oval (top) and the 2013 concept for the rebuilding of the Penrith Panthers Stadium (below).