Talking Footy

Stadium could have been refurbished for $18 million, secret report shows
Alexandra Smith

Allianz Stadium could have been upgraded to meet all safety standards for as little as $18 million, a secret report for the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust reveals.

The revelation will reignite the key election issue of stadiums for Labor leader Michael Daley as the campaign enters it final two days.

The report, prepared for the trust in May 2016, is in stark contrast to the Berejiklian government's claims that it would cost $714 million to ensure the venue met safety standards.

Rather than upgrading, the government decided to rebuild the Moore Park stadium for $729 million.

Demolition of the stadium, including ripping off the roof, is already under way, despite several attempts at legal action to stop it until after Saturday's election.

The report, by Asset Technologies Pacific and marked confidential, says Allianz Stadium could be upgraded to address "current non-compliance" for $18,153,800.

It goes on to say that Allianz would incur "minor non-compliance" issues with "each succeeding iteration of the standards, legislation and codes". But these could be easily fixed.

"These minor issues can be addressed through partial voluntary upgrades over the forthcoming 10-year period until such a time as the next major refurbishment is undertaken," the report says.

The report also says that a "critical remediation" of Allianz would cost $130 million but this would include "end of life issues" ranging from refurbishing "bathroom and public amenities" to repairing the trust's pool deck and change room and scoreboards.

The $18 million figure includes "safety and compliance" requirements ($15.5 million) and security requirements ($3.8 million), the document shows.

Mr Daley said the report "exposes once and for all their entire case for the stadium splurge to be nothing more than a sham"

“Instead they wanted a gold plated stadium. What a disgrace," he said.

Sports Minister Stuart Ayres, whose portfolio oversees the stadium and the trust, said Infrastructure NSW found that a complete rebuild of Allianz was better value for taxpayers than a refurbishment.

"This report was produced in accordance with the Legislative Council call for papers in 2018. It was then considered as part of the Upper House Public Works Committee into stadia. That committee concluded that there were significant safety and security breaches at the facility," he said.

"They recommended the full redevelopment of Sydney Football Stadium. [Labor MP] Lynda Voltz was a member of that committee.

NSW Labor leader Michael Daley has campaigned hard on not overspending on upgrading stadiums.

"After an exhaustive and detailed process Infrastructure NSW (INSW) valued a refurbishment of the SFS at $714.5 million and a rebuild at $729 million. INSW also identified the option to rebuild provided better value to the taxpayer than a refurbishment."

Mr Daley stepped up his attack on the government's decision to rebuild Allianz, when he told Alan Jones earlier this month that he would sack the broadcaster and the majority of the trust board if elected.

https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-201 ... 515xo.html

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:07 pm

Lol
The article was a cheap political stunt by the lefty media .
Bea got all excited .
It was bullshit .

NRL&NFLweLaughATafl wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:06 pm

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:07 pm

Lol
The article was a cheap political stunt by the lefty media .
Bea got all excited .
It was bullshit .

Or do they just leave it half demolished and have all 4 codes playing permanently on the SCG? I am sure the Swans would love that lol..

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:37 pm

NRL&NFLweLaughATafl wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:06 pm

AFLcrap1 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:07 pm

Lol
The article was a cheap political stunt by the lefty media .
Bea got all excited .
It was bullshit .

Or do they just leave it half demolished and have all 4 codes playing permanently on the SCG? I am sure the Swans would love that lol..

I’m sure th SCH trust would have the swans as top priority as they are next to the only team in Sydney that can attract a crowd now days!


Can you imagine the SCG members taking their business colleagues to an nrlol game trying to impress them and all you can hear are the players talking on the field and seagulls chirping in the stands!

NRL&NFLweLaughATafl wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:49 pm

Nrlolol wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:37 pm

NRL&NFLweLaughATafl wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:06 pm

Or do they just leave it half demolished and have all 4 codes playing permanently on the SCG? I am sure the Swans would love that lol..

I’m sure th SCH trust would have the swans as top priority as they are next to the only team in Sydney that can attract a crowd now days!


Can you imagine the SCG members taking their business colleagues to an nrlol game trying to impress them and all you can hear are the players talking on the field and seagulls chirping in the stands!

Facts are facts. The SCG will continue to be used by all four codes if the other stadium is not rebuilt.

There is no other option.