A punch in the nose: Sydney Football Stadium approved for immediate demolition

Approval to demolish the Sydney Football Stadium before the March 2019 election has been labelled “a punch in the nose” for NSW voters.

The stadium has been approved for immediate demolition. Picture: Supplied

The NSW Department of Planning has given the green light for the immediate demolition of the Sydney Football Stadium, with roof dismantling work to begin before the state election in March.

After the approval was announced today, Sports minister Stuart Ayres and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet held a press conference outside the stadium at Moore Park to announce that a contract for both the demolition and construction for the stadium redevelopment had been awarded to Lendlease.

“We are not going to stop and slow down building critical infrastructure because there’s an election around the corner,” Mr Ayres said.

The $730 million project is expected to be completed by early 2022.

Opposition leader Michael Daley described the announcement as a “punch in the nose” to voters, and lashed out at the government for ‘locking the taxpayers of NSW’ into the “gigantic vanity project”.

“Just wait until the election to let the people decide,” Mr Daley said.

He vowed to halt demolition works and restore the stadium should he be elected in March, and said that the costs of renegotiating the government’s contract with Lendlease would not burden taxpayers.

An artist impression of the inside of the new stadium. Picture: Supplied

Artist impression of the new stadium. Picture: Supplied

He floated a solution for the Sydney Cricket & Sport Ground Trust, a supporter of the redevelopment project, to foot the bill.

“I will not be bullied or intimidated into a bad decision. You [NSW taxpayers] will not pay a single cent for the redevelopment of the stadium,” Mr Daley said.

The Trust operates both the Sydney Cricket Ground and the adjacent Sydney Football Stadium at Moore Park in the city’s inner east.

Demolition work is set to begin after January 7 when the Test cricket at the SCG finishes.

It’s estimated that by the time the election is held on March 23, about one quarter of the Sydney Football Stadium’s roof will be dismantled.

The approval includes a number of conditions, including the establishment of a community consultative committee before any heavy demolition starts.

Sydney Cricket Ground Trust CEO Kerrie Mather said the stadium redevelopment would create 600 construction jobs.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Infrastructure NSW and Lendlease to ensure the redevelopment runs smoothly, on schedule and with as little disruption as possible,” Ms Mather said.

Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow said his club was “extremely pleased with the speed at which the government is executing on its plans for the new state of the art stadium in Moore Park”.

“Today’s signing is a huge step forward in ensuring our club won’t be displaced for any longer than necessary,” Mr Barlow said.

NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg welcomed the announcement that approval for demolition had been granted.

“I look forward to following progress and like thousands of our fans, I look forward to sitting in the crowd at a brand new Sydney Football Stadium.”

NSW Opposition leader Michael Daley vowed to halt demolition works and restore the stadium should he be elected in March. Picture: AAP