Lord Mayor Clover Moore overruled as Roosters find base
THE state government has stepped in to overrule Lord Mayor Clover Moore in a bitter dispute with NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters which had threatened the club’s 2019 preparations.
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THE state government has stepped in to overrule Lord Mayor Clover Moore in a bitter dispute with NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters which had threatened the club’s 2019 preparations.
The Lord Mayor had been trying to stop the Roosters from using public land at Fox Studios for temporary offices and a high-performance unit while Allianz Stadium is being bulldozed and rebuilt.
Moore was opposed to the Entertainment Quarter becoming “private corporate headquarters for elite sporting groups,” a spokeswoman said.
The Lord Mayor called for a Development Planning Panel to step in, delay the project, and stop the SCG Trust and the Sydney Roosters from setting up the accommodation in demountable offices.
State Government planning minister Anthony Roberts stepped in to override the Lord Mayor.
“When I learned of the plight of the Roosters, that they would not have a base from which to operate, I was stunned,” the minister told The Daily Telegraph.
“This situation could not be allowed to stand. After all, this is the NRL Premiers, a foundation club of the National Rugby League which itself is a major national sporting competition supported by millions of footy fans.
“How on earth could the Roosters possibly compete in next year’s competition without a base from which to operate and train?”
The Roosters had been in negotiations for months with SCG Trust chairman Tony Shephard to find suitable accommodation for the premiers for the next three years.
Powerful chairman Nick Politis was furious about the treatment from the Lord Mayor.
“When South Sydney won the premiership the Lord Mayor handed them the keys to the city,” Politis said.
“All we wanted was temporary accommodation in an unused carpark and couldn’t even get that.
“We’d like to thank the minister and the SCG Trust for ensuring we’ll have the right facilities for the players, the coaches and our entire staff.”
The Waratahs and Sydney FC have also been forced to find alternative accommodation.
The Roosters will play their home matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground this year, sharing the venue with the Sydney Swans.
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