Any plans for development surrounding Bankwest Stadium will have to pass through Parliament, after a Bill amendment to remove this provision was blocked by Labor and members of the crossbench recently.
The legislation for the Sporting Venues Authorities Bill, which passed in the NSW Upper House, will ensure a range of sporting venues including Bankwest Stadium will be under a single management board.
The original changes to the Bill, proposed by the State Government, would have allowed the Minister for Sport to approve commencement of the development planning process through the usual Environmental Planning and Assessment Act processes.
Auburn MP and Shadow Minister for Sport, Lynda Voltz said this was a “poor attempt” by the State Government to “slip changes through the Parliament”.
“With support of the crossbench, Labor removed provisions from the Bill which may have unleashed residential and commercial development,” she said.
“The current provision remains – requiring the government to bring any proposal for residential or commercial hotel development on Venues land back to the Parliament. Labor was also successful in removing the Berejiklian Government’s attempted attack on the Sydney Olympic Park Authority – which would have seen its assets carved up under the proposed legislation.”
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground, Olympic venues, Wollongong Stadium and Newcastle Sporting Precinct are all protected by legislation.
“These changes will ensure sport and the community’s interests will always come first in our sporting precincts,” Ms Voltz said.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee defended the State Government’s original amendment, stating all development applications would still have to go through safeguarded planning processes.
“Any assertion that the Sporting Venues Authorities (Venues NSW) Bill would have given the Minister for Sport the opportunity to approve development is completely false,” he said.
“The Sporting Venues Authorities (Venues NSW) Act will deliver huge benefits to NSW, as we aim to create better usage of our sporting precincts with a mix of retail, restaurants, and businesses where appropriate.
“This will encourage the venues and their surroundings to be used seven days a week, not just on game days.”
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.