Moore Park parking ban scrapped in a lifeline to Western Sydney sports fans

Footy fans will be able to continue parking on the grass at Moore Park until a new carpark is finished, with the Minns government moving to save 1,450 parking spots at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Footy fans will be able to continue parking on the grass at Moore Park until a new carpark is finished, with the Minns government moving to save 1,450 parking spots at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Parking on the grass was set to be banned from the end of this year.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the government has now extended a lifeline to footy fans who drive into the stadium including many from Western Sydney.

Under legislation ticked off by cabinet on Monday afternoon, thousands of parking spaces on the grass will remain until a new carpark is finished.

Figures from the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, reported by the Telegraph last year, found that more than 100,000 people used the on-grass parking every year before the Covid pandemic.

The Minns government will keep grass parking at Moore Park until replacements are built. Picture: David Swift.

Axing the parking spots risked leaving fans who drove to the SCG with nowhere to park for up to two years.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry last year, the Alliance of Moore Parks Sports (representing teams including Sydney FC, the Roosters, and the Swans) said it was “crucially important” to keep parking spaces available.

Venues NSW estimated that removing the parking spaces before any alternatives were built would have cost the state $30 million in lost visitor revenue across 66 event days per year.

The move will save 1,450 parking spots and $30 million per year. Picture: David Swift.

Under draft legislation approved by cabinet on Monday, the on-grass parking spots will still be removed – but only after a replacement carpark is built, expected to be by 2026.

Premier Chris Minns said the decision to keep thousands of parking spaces on the grass at Moore Park will ensure that “people who travel from Western Sydney or around the state for sports and entertainment at Moore Park have equal access to parking”.

“It doesn’t make sense to shut off access to thousands of parking spaces before the new carpark is complete,” he said.

Premier Chris Minns said the move is a win for fans who drive to the SCG from Western Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“These public facilities need to be accessible to all residents, not just those nearby or those who have easy access to public transport.”

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the plan to keep on-grass parking while alternatives were built is a “commonsense solution”.

Sports Minister Steve Kamper said the on-grass parking spaces were the only option available to families in Western Sydney, or people with a disability.

“The NSW Government is committed to delivering the parklands, but we need to ensure we have a viable parking alternative in place. We don’t want to see anyone miss out on attending the New Years Test or Paul McCartney this summer,” he said.