This was published 5 years ago
SCG Trust wants a Metro West rail stop for Moore Park stadium revamp
By Megan Gorrey
The powerful Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust is calling for a new heavy rail station to be built at Moore Park, to complement its $730 million new stadium.
Submissions on the controversial plan to build a new 45,000 seat venue to replace Allianz Stadium, made public on Monday, are overwhelmingly hostile to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres' stadium policy.
The SCG Trust wants a train station to service the planned new stadium at Moore Park. A light rail stop is already in the works for the precinct.Credit: Christopher Pearce
But the submissions on the new stadium also reveal the SCG Trust's lobbying for a new rail stop to improve access to the area.
The SCG Trust is urging the government to extend its proposed Metro West rail line to include a stop at Moore Park, which will also have a dedicated stop on the 12-kilometre light rail route from Circular Quay to the eastern suburbs.
"While we agree the light rail will make a significant contribution to movement of patrons in and out of the precinct, a stop on the new Metro West line would be a step-change in transport and access," SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd said in his submission.
He said the stop "would make a significant contribution to a car-free precinct".
"Further, an SCG/SFS stop would link directly to the proposed stop at Zetland, providing the easiest of access for the rapidly growing residential population of Green Square."
The heavy rail station would service the new Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground. Credit: AAP
The number and location of stations on the Metro West project has not been finalised. The government has committed to several stops on the route from Westmead through Parramatta to the CBD.
In the longer term, the government said it would “safeguard the ability” to extend the project to the west to an airport at Badgerys Creek, and through to the eastern suburbs, via Zetland.
Traffic congestion was among the objections raised in more than 700 submissions from residents, councils and community groups that have been lodged in response to the stadium project's environmental impact statement.
The vast majority were opposed to the plan, citing concerns that ranged from construction noise and pollution, to tree removal and use of public funds.
The government is forging ahead with its plans for the stadium redevelopment. It has said it hopes to have the demolition approved by November.
The government's ambition to start demolishing Allianz Stadium in January has drawn criticism from Labor and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, with both concerned the government was rushing the proposal through planning processes.
In its submission, the City of Sydney Council reiterated its concerns over a lack of public transport for a greater number of visitors and increased demand for parking around nearby Centennial Park.
"The light rail has effectively replaced buses and offers little net additional capacity given the extent of route served," the Council said in its submission.
Architect Penelope Seidler said demolishing the "significant structure" and erecting a new stadium would be "an outrageous waste of public funds".
"Any present inadequacies can be remedied at significantly less cost that rebuilding a new stadium," she wrote.
Mr Shepherd wrote the planned demolition and rebuild was a "sensible and prudent use of public money" that would make attending the venues "easier and more attractive" for sports fans.