ANZ Stadium knock down, rebuild abandoned by NSW government
Opposition Leader Luke Foley doubled down on his criticism of the Government’s stadium policy, saying that despite the change of tack on knocking down ANZ Stadium, the policy remained an “extravagant reckless stadium splurge”.
NSW
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THE state government has abandoned plans to knock down and rebuild ANZ Stadium in a softening of Gladys Berejiklian’s controversial policy which has bought the cost down to $1.5 billion.
Cabinet was presented with the business cases this morning and will instead refurbish the existing facility into a rectangular stadium.
The Government will proceed with the full redevelopment of Allianz Stadium — delivering a world-class facility.
Cabinet signed off on the revised policy after receiving the business cases this morning, which was prepared by Infrastructure NSW.
OPINION: Why we need to upgrade ANZ Stadium
EDITORIAL: ‘CHEAPER’ STADIUM OPTION NOT SO CHEAP
At ANZ Stadium two thirds of the seating — about 46,000 seats — will be renovated to be closer to the field and ensure all seats are undercover.
Ms Berejiklian said a renovation of every seat in ANZ Stadium would have cost more than knocking it down and rebuilding but renovating two thirds of the stadiums was cheaper and will “give it life” for the next 40 years.
“The business case now says that knocking down and rebuilding ANZ Stadium would have cost $1.3 billion and we know, we’ve listened to the community, we know the public would have thought that was too much to spend which is why we asked INSW to look at the refurbishment option,” she said.
GRAND FINAL STAYING IN SYDNEY
This major renovation ensures that Sydney continues to host the NRL grand final for the next 25 years.
Chairman Peter Beattie said it would provide fans with the “best game experience they’d ever had”.
He said he was happy to keep 25 years of grand finals in Sydney because the government was still making such a massive commitment to stadiums.
Mr Beattie said naturally they would have preferred a full redevelopment, but he said the NRL was willing to compromise.
“This is still an incredible outcome for the game,” Mr Beattie said.
The full knockdown of ANZ Stadium would have cost $1.33 billion — higher than previous estimates.
The plan the government selected will cost $810 million and be delivered two years earlier than scheduled with the job to be completed in mid-2021 and starting late 2019.
The new ANZ facility will have 70,000 seats.
The knockdown and rebuild of Allianz Stadium will cost $729 million and it will have about 40,000 to 45,000 seats.
Allianz, which is plagued by serious compliance and safety issues, will be knocked down late this year and rebuilt by March 2022.
It also currently doesn’t have sufficient female toilets and inadequate disability access.
The new stadium, which is expected to have a 50-year life span, will be rectangular with improved sightlines and a roof that covers all seats.
Sports Minister Stuart Ayers said refurbishing Allianz would have costs $714 million and only made it viable for another 25 – 30 years.
But a knockdown and rebuild for $729 million ensures Allianz can be used for another 50 years.
The government said the decision on Allianz was based on the final business cases by Infrastructure NSW.
GOVERNMENT HAS ‘DONE ITS HOMEWORK’
“We are a Government that does its homework and listens to the public,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“That comprehensive homework means we will be able to deliver two outstanding stadiums for Sydney at the best possible value for taxpayers.”
“Our thorough homework means that we can deliver a world class rectangular stadium at Sydney Olympic Park without knocking down ANZ Stadium, save $500 million, and complete the rebuild two years earlier than previously scheduled,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejiklian defended that she announced in November both Allianz and ANZ would be rebuilt as it was done “on the best information we had” and was always to be subject to business cases.
“If we made an announcement and then behind the scenes were doing these business cases people would have said we had secret plans – we’ve been very upfront about this from day one. We’ve outlined what our intention was, we said it was subject to a business case, to me that’s the best way of doing government is taking the community with you on the journey – make sure you’ve done your homework but also that you’ve listened to the community,” she said.
U-TURN A ‘COMEDY OF ERRORS’
Opposition Leader Luke Foley doubled down on his criticism of the Government’s stadium policy, saying that despite the change of tack on knocking down ANZ Stadium, the policy remained an “extravagant reckless stadium splurge”.
“She’s replaced a $2.7 billion stadium splurge with a $2.3 billion stadium splurge,” he said.
Mr Foley said ploughing ahead with rebuilding Alliance Stadium at Moore Park, which would not host the Grand Final or State of Origin, was “rotten to the core”.
The ALP accused the Premier of prioritising the “vested interests” of the SCG Trust, with Mr Foley personally attacking Ms Berejiklian. But he would not reveal his plans for the city’s stadiums.
“What a comedy of errors this is,” he said. Asked if he should show bipartisanship on the issue, Mr Foley said his priority was to air-condition NSW schools.
“This premier in her latest panicked tactical manoeuvre to try and get herself through the election, will build Alan Jones and his mates a new stadium so he’ll editorialise in favour of her every morning,” he said.
“This premier is now onto her third stadium policy in four months, she’ll probably have another one again before the election.
“Ms Berejiklian is not a leader for this state. She’s a number two, not a number one. You never get vision, you never get clear decisions from her. What you get are a series of panicked, tactical manoeuvres to try and get her through her an election. That’s the opposite of leadership.
“People can choose at the election, if you want billions spent on stadiums vote for Gladys, if you want your kids in air conditioned classrooms in schools, the very best health and education systems, I’m your man.”
Quizzed about when the ALP would reveal its plans on stadiums, particularly ANZ, Mr Foley replied: “Let’s see where they (the government) go with their latest plan. There’s an entire planning process to go through at Moore Park. If this is rushed through improperly, without full public consultation and participation an incoming government will establish a special commission of inquiry with royal commission powers.”
Asked directly if he thought an $800 million refurbishment of ANZ was a good idea, Mr Foley replied: “I cannot sign up to a package that involves a $2.3 billion splurge. Not when it comes in a package, a $2.3 billion package, I can’t and I won’t.
“We will continue to campaign against it.”
SYDNEY COUNCILS WELCOME BACKFLIP
A group of councils in Sydney’s west have welcomed the backflip on ANZ Stadium, saying the money saved should be spent on Western Sydney.
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils president Stephen Bali called on the State Governmetn to consult with local councils on how the $500 million in funds saved could be spent on the region.
The organisation represents eight councils, including Parramatta, Penrith, Liverpool and Cumberland.
“The next step is to ensure the remaining $500 million is reallocated to meet critical needs in Western Sydney,” Mr Bali, who is also the ALP member for Blacktown, said.
“It could be used to accelerate the scoping and delivery of Western Sydney’s future rail corridors, address a critical shortage of commuter car parks, or to install lifts at rail stations to help our most vulnerable access public transport,” he said.
“It could be invested in local sports infrastructure and healthy eating programs to tackle Western Sydney’s growing obesity and chronic disease epidemic – one that is costing Australia’s health system billions of dollars.”
Stadium stoush: A timeline
• November 2017: The Berejiklian government announces a $2 billion overhaul of ANZ and Allianz stadiums.
• December 2017: The Daily Telegraph uncovers confidential government modelling showing that bulldozing ANZ stadium would be $132 million cheaper than renovating the ageing sports arena.
• December 2017: An online petition begins circulating, calling for the government to invest the $2 billion elsewhere.
• February 2018: The NRL threatens to take its grand final to Queensland if the NSW government changes its mind on rebuilding ANZ, after it emerges not everyone in the Liberal party room is keen on the expensive revamp.
• March 2018: NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley admits he’d be happy to rip up ANZ stadium, despite repeatedly hammering the government over the plan.
• March 2018: The state government abandons plans to knock down and rebuild ANZ Stadium.