Royal Agricultural Society takes on NSW Government in battle for Sydney Showground upgrade

Sydney Showground officials are leading a push for a major upgrade to the ageing precinct with claims the NSW Government should be investing in the site rather than funnelling millions of dollars into rebuilding the Penrith Panthers’ home ground.

The NSW Government’s funding priorities have come under fire from Royal Agricultural Society officials with claims millions of dollars allocated to rebuilding Penrith Stadium would be better spent upgrading the ageing Sydney Showground precinct.

The Royal Agricultural Society has spoken out over ongoing delays to a long-planned revamp of the Olympic Park showground with warnings the site needs a major overhaul to maintain Sydney’s reputation as a premier events destination.

For the last seven years, the agricultural society has been working on a masterplan to boost the appeal of the State Government-owned showground.

In 2019, the government accepted a business case for the $447m upgrade but five years on, the project still rests on the government stumping up the cash.

The centrepiece of the masterplan is a 4000-seat multipurpose conference centre, which the society says could stand equal to the International Conference Centre at Darling Harbour.

A concept photo of the proposed convention centre.

Royal Agricultural Society head of property Jonathan Seward said the upgrade would ensure NSW did not fall behind other states including Victoria, which is developing a second major convention centre in Geelong.

“As good as the Internal Conference Centre might be, ironically, due to the ICC’s success it is clear that many domestic event opportunities are being lost interstate and overseas due to Sydney not having an alternate venue of quality in western Sydney such as at the NSW Government owned Sydney Showground,” Mr Seward said.

“It will enhance Sydney and Parramatta’s capacity to stage more lucrative business and entertainment events, effectively doubling the business event capability of NSW.”

The showground hosts events including the Royal Easter Show.

Another key aspect of the masterplan is a new agricultural centre of excellence – a project the agricultural society has described as a “Sydney Fish Market for Agriculture”.

The centre of excellence would showcase the state’s agricultural produce and incorporate markets, a culinary school, urban rooftop gardens and a boutique brewery.

Mr Seward has questioned the state overnment’s funding priorities including a $309m pledge to upgrade Penrith Stadium.

An aerial photo of the showground site.

“The fact that the government is prepared to invest some $300m into upgrading an existing rugby league stadium in Penrith for little if any incremental benefit but has not invested in the upgrade of Sydney Showground despite the huge and enduring economic and social uplift this would create is at best very disappointing,” Mr Seward wrote.

The Sydney Showground site has almost two dozen buildings spread across 30-hectares including some dating more than three decades. The Royal Agricultural Society operates the site under a 99-year lease to the NSW Government.

$309m has been pledged to upgrade Panthers Stadium.

Mr Seward said the revamp would support the state’s primary producers at a time when many farmers are grappling with increased social and economic challenges.

The upgrade would also capitalise on the second stage of Sydney Parramatta Light Rail which will add a station directly next to the showground precinct.

In a statement, a NSW Government spokeswoman said it was finalising the 2050 Master Plan for Sydney Olympic Park which incorporates Sydney Showground’s masterplan and provides the blueprint for future development of the suburb.

A concept image of the masterplan.

“The government is committed to developing Sydney Olympic Park as a thriving location for residents, workers, and the broader community,” she said.

“The diverse range of events and activities will continue to generate social and economic benefits for the community well into the future.”

The revamp of the showground is part of grander ambitions to reshape the precinct as the place “where the Country meets the City 365”.

A concept photo of the masterplan.

The masterplan also includes an upgrade of the Schmidt Arena – currently used for equestrian events.

The agricultural society says the upgrade would also benefit other users of the precinct including AFL’s Greater Western Sydney Giants and cricket’s Sydney Thunder which both play out of the Sydney Showground precinct.

The showground currently attracts more than 1.5m annual visitors and drew an estimated crowd of more than 800,000 for this year’s Royal Easter Show.