Campbelltown Council will wage a strong campaign to convince the State Government Sydney’s third major stadium/entertainment facility should be built here.
The general manager, Mr Paul Tosi, has been tasked with discussing with the state sports minister the potential of Campbelltown Sports Stadium being converted into the number three sport facility in the metropolitan area, after ANZ Stadium at Homebush and Allianz Stadium at Moore Park.
Councillor Paul Lake got the ball rolling at council’s July 29 meeting, with a speech that sounded more like a declaration of war on Campbelltown’s stadium bid opponents than a plea for some more decent facilities.
On the contrary, Cr Lake argued that precisely because Campbelltown and Macarthur have everything else, there was no question the third stadium should be built here.
‘‘We have it all here, from a university to an art gallery, and that’s why this stadium should be here,’’ Cr Lake thundered.
He said the Campbelltown Sport stadium precinct (with the athletics track and tennis courts) ‘‘was perfect for such a facility the state government was proposing’’.
He proposed that a detailed report be prepared on the Leumeah Sporting Precinct by council’s Strategic Planner for a new 40,000 seat sporting/entertainment complex with parking facilities to include both the Eastern and Western side of the rail line.
Cr Lake warned that Campbelltown needed to put in a strong bid for the stadium because they weren’t the only ones interested in the proposal.
‘’We know Liverpool are pushing for this as well,’’ he said.
‘’But we will get it because we deserve to get it here, just as we deserve to be a regional city as well.’’
Both Penrith and Parramatta are strong contenders to be the site for the new stadium, while Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun is also pushing hard for it.
The State Government has not set a date for a decision, and with an election a little more than six months away, it’s anybody’s guess if it will name a site before then.
