NSW Government abandons ANZ Stadium rebuild plans, backs new Allianz Stadium

The latest change in the NSW Government’s plans for Sydney’s major stadia has seen NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian abandon the proposal to knock down and rebuild ANZ Stadium.

Backing down on the $2 billion-plus plan to demolish both of Sydney's main sporting stadiums, Premier Berejiklian will go ahead with its proposal to rebuild the 30-year old Allianz Stadium at Moore Park while the former Olympic Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park will instead be refurbished and transformed into a rectangular stadium.

The compromise plan, agreed at a NSW cabinet meeting this morning, marks a U-turn on the previously announced $2.5 billion stadiums policy that had generated massive public and political opposition.

A Sydney Morning Herald/ReachTEL poll last week found almost 60% of voters opposed the stadiums policy with more than 53% of voters also feeling that the NSW Government was spending too much on major sporting infrastructure.

Announcing the change of plan, Premier Berejiklian stated “the (NSW) Government will be proceeding with a refurbishment option, which ensures we get a world class venue at a half a billion dollars less.

"It means we can do all those things we want to do ... and having a better experience for our fans, at half a billion dollar less than what it would have cost us, if we had done the full knockdown and rebuild.”

Rather than knock down and rebuild the ANZ Stadium it will now be refurbished into a rectangular shape more suited to football and rugby league.

Commenting on the plan to demolish and rebuild the smaller Allianz Stadium, Premier Berejiklian added "Allianz's business case is straightforward and unequivocal.

"The only real option for that stadium is a knockdown and rebuild at a cost of around $730 million. And that is what the government is proceeding with."

The change of plan comes just weeks after NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley toured the state in a big red bus emblazoned with the slogan "schools and hospitals before stadiums".

The decision is a massive win for the influential Sydney Cricket and Sportsground Trust which has ceaselessly lobbyed for Allianz Stadium to be rebuilt.

The Trust was undeterred by the April 2016 decision to rebuild ANZ Stadium, simply redoubling its efforts to secure its preferred outcome.

Image: Artist's impression of the proposed rebuild at Allianz Stadium.

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