Shadow Minister for Sport Eleni Petinos has called on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on the figures behind their decision to cancel the full redevelopment of Penrith Stadium.
“Penrith is a critical city centre located in the heart of the Western Parkland City, the closest established CBD to the new international airport and the gateway to the Blue Mountains,” Ms Petinos said. “The Penrith community deserves to know if the Minns Labor Government is being fair dinkum or playing with figures to justify their decision to walk away from delivering the redevelopment that the stadium needs.”
“Labor must release the full costings behind this decision, to explain how a stadium just over half the size of Allianz Stadium can cost around $100m more and nearly three times more than Commbank Stadium which cost $330 million.”
“Given the low value of the recreational zoned land occupied by the Paceway, there is a genuine concern that Labor has deliberately inflated the price to justify cutting the project.”
Ms Petinos said the new local Labor MP needs to be honest with her community and clearly spell out what the future of the Penrith stadium looks like.
“Karen McKeown needs to detail how the funding will deliver the needed Penrith stadium upgrades, and whether it will provide the sporting facilities that the community deserves,” said Ms Petinos.
“The Minns Labor Government has also left the future of the Penrith Paceway under a dark cloud. With no prospect of a rezoning for other uses and no funding for a relocation the future of the Paceway now hangs in the balance.”
“Rather than trying to roll out rubbery figures to justify their decisions, the Minns Labor Government needs to be honest with the community.”
