Zero sum game for Stadium Australia

The promised $810m redevelopment of ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park was airbrushed out of last week’s state budget.

The demolition of Allianz Stadium at Moore Park. Picture: Toby Zerna

The promised $810 million redevelopment of Stadium Australia at Olympic Park was airbrushed out of last week’s state budget, leading to suggestions the government might be shying away from the project.

But Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the government will release funds once a business case is complete.

In the 2018-19 state budget, the Stadium Australia redevelopment received lengthy mention. That document said: “The refurbishment of Stadium Australia will commence in late 2019 and is due to be completed by mid-2021.”

But last week’s 2019-20 budget, while acknowledging the $730m Sydney Football Stadium redevelopment which is under way in Sydney’s east; and the completed Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta, made no mention of the proposed rebuild of Stadium Australia, which carries the sponsor name of ANZ Stadium.

The government has already delayed the rebuild of the stadium until after State of Origin next year, leading to noises out of the NRL that the 2021 rugby league grand final could be taken out of Sydney rather than being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the NRL after millions more from the state government to keep the game in Sydney.

The Australian understands some in government are questioning whether the Stadium Australia rebuild will be necessary following the construction of the new SFS.

Acting Opposition Leader Penny Sharpe said: “The Premier and her Sports Minister promised two stadiums and just weeks after the election they are walking back from one of them. They are going ahead with a stadium in the eastern suburbs yet western Sydney will miss out. This broken promise threatens future games.

“I call upon the Premier to provide a timeframe for ANZ Stadium and guarantee that we won’t lose any matches.”

Mr Perrottet said yesterday: “There has been no change to the government’s commitment to refurbish Stadium Australia ... and deliver a world-class venue for the people of NSW.”

An NRL spokesman said there was “no cause for concern” over the government’s omission and he believed the project would go ahead.