Labor’s Michael Daley writes letter to Premier demanding she stop demolition on Allianz Stadium

Opposition Leader Michael Daley has penned letters to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the construction contractor for Allianz Stadium seeking an “urgent” briefing on the demolition schedule.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley has penned letters to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the construction contractor for Allianz Stadium seeking an “urgent” briefing on the demolition schedule of the Moore Park facility.

In his letter to Ms Berejiklian, Mr Daley called on the Premier to halt “hard demolition” of the stadium until after the state election on March 23 to “allow the people of NSW to have their say”.

Demolition work underway at Allianz Stadium on Thursday. Picture: AAP

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The Berejiklian government is knocking down and rebuilding Allianz Stadium at a cost of $730 million and have rejected requests to delay demolition work.

If elected premier, Mr Daley would make the SCG Trust take out a loan to pay for a modest upgrade of the stadium, meaning taxpayers would not wear the cost.

Mr Daley said he was also writing to the boss of construction contractor Lendlease asking for an “urgent meeting” to discuss the demolition schedule.

Workers were seen tearing down parts of the stadium on Thursday.

Demolition work underway at Allianz Stadium on Thursday. Picture: AAP

“We’ve got nine days until the election, we are in caretaker mode and the Premier still won’t let us know what the demolition schedule is,” he said.

“Come clean on what the demolition schedule is, number two, stop demolishing this stadium, down tools until the election, let the people of NSW have their say.

“When those walls start to come down in the next week, that will be a graphic reminder to the people of NSW. When they see the concrete crumble they will see in graphic terms what the Premier thinks of them and their views and attitudes.”

Ms Berejiklian said she was “not going to enter into political games”, adding: “If he wants to write letters, fine — we are delivering projects”.

Asked again whether she would stop demolition, she said: “Once you issue a contract to someone to deliver a project, they have to get on with the job.”

The Land and Environment Court last week threw out a challenge by Local Democracy Matters and Waverley Council, meaning major works could proceed.

But the community group immediately filed an appeal in the NSW Court of Appeal which will be heard on Friday.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said he’d received advice from structural engineers that the stormy weather forecast would make “serious structural damage” almost impossible.

“Local Democracy Matters will be in court tomorrow and one of the issues that will be considered is whether a stop work order is needed, however with the forecast of rain … it’s likely the heavens will step in and intervene,” he said.