NSW Budget set to back upgrades to Sydney's suburban stadiums

The NSW Government’s 2020/21 Budget is expected to include funding for planning work on suburban stadiums across Sydney although money will not be allocated to specific projects.

As reported by Guardian Australia, the NSW Government’s Budget on 17th November budget will earmark between $2 million and $3 million over the next two years to explore the business case for revamping the city’s sporting infrastructure to create jobs and economic growth.

In a radio interview, NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet suggested that could come not only from professional and grassroots sport, but also community events.

The NSW Government has a long-term view to back the NRL’s wish for multiple 20,000-seat stadiums across Sydney, with Leichhardt Oval, Penrith’s Panthers Stadium, NetStrata Jubilee Oval in Kogarah and Brookvale Oval among venues set to be considered for redevelopment while a new stadium in Liverpool might also be backed.

The “mini Bankwest Stadiums” campaign obtained verbal NSW Government backing in August, departing from plans to redevelop major venues with Sydney Football Stadium/Allianz Stadium currently being rebuilt and the planned upgrade of ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park now shelved.

Councils have been pushing for upgrades to their local grounds, and local MPs welcomed suggestions that boutique stadiums may be built in their electorates.

However, as reported by Guardian Australia, the NSW Government’s current investment plans are limited to formulating a business case and do not include dollars dedicated to specific infrastructure.

It is understood neither A-League side Sydney FC, Jubilee Oval’s major summer tenant and the SCG Trust, which is overseeing the $730 million rebuilding of the Sydney Football Stadium, have not been consulted.

Treaurer Perrottet told Guardian Australia in a statement “there will be some funding for planning work on Kogarah in the budget on 17 November. We know the NRL is keen to revamp some of the smaller NRL grounds but we need to do the work to make sure spending money stacks up.

“We certainly have the runs on the board - the stadium at Parramatta is world class. It’s been recognised as being one of the best venues in the country. Nobody has a better record of building infrastructure than our government - we have a $100bn pipeline of projects across the coming years.”

Treasurer Perrottet told 2GB radio today “we’ll work through this on a case-by-case basis but we do want to move away from the big stadiums and try and ensure local communities over time have great facilities.”

Last month, the Manly Sea Eagles Chairman, Scott Penn, called for funding to help revamp the NRL club’s home ground, Brookvale Oval, after construction began on a $33.1m centre of excellence and the northern grandstand.

Images: A past plan for a new boutique venue in Liverpool (top) and the Leichhardt Oval (below).