Cities Minister blames Venues NSW for failing to push for more parking spots

A war over the lack of car spaces at Moore Park has intensified, with one NSW minister attempting to pin the blame squarely on stadium operator.

THE war over the lack of carparking at Moore Park has intensified with Cities Minister Rob Stokes attempting to pin the blame squarely on stadium operator Venues NSW.

In a strongly worded letter to Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd the Minister has also pledged his support for an increase in the size of a new multistorey car park to be built next door to Allianz Stadium.

Mr Stokes said he would be “strongly supportive” of any move to increase the car park size and even suggested putting more spaces on the roof.

It is the latest move in a long-running battle sparked by the removal of more than 2600 parking spots on the grass outside the stadiums by the end of 2025.

Sporting bodies say the replacement 1500 space multistorey car park is not big enough.

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes has written to Venues NSW over the parking crisis at Moore Park. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“When I jointly sponsored the application for funding by Venues NSW for a new car park I was assured that the car park would meet Venues’ requirements,” Mr Stokes wrote in the letter.

“However, if a larger multistorey car park is now preferred, I would be supportive of this proposal,” he wrote.

Mr Stokes also suggested the current proposal be amended to include parking on the roof.

“A global city with a world class stadium should have modern, safe, convenient parking facilities,” he wrote.

“Parking on a paddock in the middle of a major city is no longer good enough for motorists or park users.”

Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said his club had signed a 25 year deal to turn the grass parking area into an elite training facility that could also be used by the public.

“I don’t think any of the sports are questioning the removal of parking from the grass in Moore Park, it is more a case of having suitable parking infrastructure with the capacity to accommodate big match transport needs,” he said.

Parking at the new stadium is proving to be a contentious issue. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Even before the 1100 space shortage is taken into account events such as The Big Bash last Saturday and the two Elton John concerts saw car parks full hours before the events began.

Danny Townsend, chair of the Alliance of Moore Park Sports, said he was “greatly encouraged” by Mr Stokes‘ letter and had arranged to meet him this week.

“It is encouraging. If there is support for more parking spaces then we would like to explore that.”

Mr Townsend said the issue was not about continuing to park on the grass but passing legislation to remove the parking spots before an alternative was in place.

“This is a self imposed deadline,” he said.

“We need to push the deadline back to give us more time to find a solution or actually just find a solution.”

A spokesman for Venues NSW declined to comment.