Nile Supports Upgrade of Sydney Cricket Ground
The Rev Fred Nile, leader of the Christian Democratic Party has supported legislation that will enable the construction of new facilities at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“The Christian Democratic Party supports the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Amendment Bill, which is an important step in improving the accommodation for members of the public at the Sydney Cricket Ground particularly. The trust in charge of the property, the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, has determined that the Sydney Cricket Ground hill has become a liability due to its deteriorating condition, its inefficient operation and its high maintenance costs. Therefore, the trust, having decided that the hill area is disadvantaged in comparison to other areas both within and without the State, recommended that the Government give urgent consideration and priority to the construction of a hill grandstand, which is why we are debating the bill today.
The commercial development of this land has the potential to generate funds for the construction of the grandstand and other projects on the trust draft master plan. The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Act came into force in April 1978. The Act established the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust to be in charge of that land. The trust is charged with the responsibility, care, control and management of the land and assets of the trust that are dedicated to public recreation”, stated Rev Fred Nile MLC.
”The trust's powers extend to the ability to carry out works on the trust land that includes the Sydney Cricket Ground, Aussie Stadium and the surrounding land, including the members' car park, which is an important part of this bill. Two sites are to be developed: the hill and what is known as the gold members' car park. The trust is required under its trust conditions to ensure that land is used by persons, clubs or associations, leagues or unions as the trust may think fit and proper for cricket, football, athletics sports or public amusement, and for any other purpose that the Minister may approve that is consistent with a public recreation dedication. The trust also has the power to carry out any work in connection with the improvement, development and maintenance of trust lands for public recreation purposes.
The bill has positive aspects of allowing the Minister for Planning to refer to the Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation the approval of parcels of land within the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust scheduled lands that are compatible with commercial development purposes, but the bill prohibits residential development over the whole of the scheduled lands, other than the land described in schedule 2B, which is the current site of the gold members' car park. The bill also prohibits tourist and visitor accommodation, including hotels and serviced apartments that are part of the scheduled lands but are not designated land. This part of the bill refers to the southern half of the scheduled lands where the Sydney Cricket Ground is located. The prohibitions have been introduced to ensure that the trust lands are available for use by members of the community at large. Members of the public in Sydney who enjoy cricket look forward to improvements in the facilities, especially on the hill, which is the site for a modern grandstand. I support the bill,” Rev Nile said.