Stadium plan set for the shredder

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New Premier Chris Minns has plenty on his plate since his decisive election victory last month, but at some stage he’ll need to address Sydney’s stadium debate with absolute finality.

And it’s important to recognise that finding the right solution might mean dumping the planned $300 million re-build of Penrith Stadium.

The previous Liberal government identified the Penrith Paceway and Showground site as the perfect location for a new stadium in Penrith, as it would allow for a larger venue with a capacity and purpose that would warrant the significant spend.

Labor does not appear on board with that plan, saying on the record that it will not spend a cent more than the $300 million allocated for the project. That won’t be enough to build the stadium as well as purchase the Showground land and relocate the harness racing facility.

The result, therefore, is a knock down and re-build of the existing stadium, which I’ve always had significant doubts about.

The reality is that any new venue on the current site, due to the space involved, would barely increase the capacity and would be a huge win for corporate ticket holders with general punters left with likely higher prices to sit in comparative, if not worse, seats.

Labor has previously said it wants to protect the hill at the northern end of the ground as part of a re-build, which is almost guaranteed anyway as the location of Ransley Street prevents a grandstand being built.

Labor will likely soon discover through a business case and due diligence that the Showground site is the logical option for the stadium. But that certainly does not mean Minns will whack out the cheque book.

Knocking down and re-building the existing stadium simply doesn’t make sense and doesn’t deliver on the multi-purpose, additional capacity venue that Penrith deserves and wants.

I understand Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher will continue to push for the $300 million to be delivered. That is his job and he would be negligent if he didn’t push that outcome.