Council to bring sports bodies and Government together to establish regional sporting precinct
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Inner West Council has resolved to bring the community and peak sporting bodies together to work with the NSW Government to create a spectacular new recreation and sporting precinct in the Rozelle Rail Yards.
The Government has previously indicated that at the completion of WestConnex in 2023, it will hand back Rozelle Rail Yard in the form of a green “corridor”, called Rozelle Parklands.
Mayor Byrne said the Government has a chance to leave a lasting legacy for the WestConnex project by building an exciting new destination for the people of Sydney.
“Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Minister for Sport John Sidoti are both potential allies who can work in partnership with Council to achieve a great outcome at Rozelle Rail Yards.
“We want to work closely with them to masterplan this site, so that in five years - when WestConnex is finished - what is created is a green haven out of an industrial wasteland.
Notwithstanding Council’s objections to WestConnex, this parkland represents a great opportunity to create a recreation and sporting precinct for the whole Inner West region.
“There is a danger that what is handed back to us could be an empty concrete slab. But we think that by working together, we can achieve a much better result than that.
“With preparations for construction of the Rozelle Interchange site proceeding, we believe the time is ripe to convene a meeting with the Government, Council, peak sporting bodies, the community and interested stakeholders to ensure to the best outcome is delivered,” said Mayor Byrne.
Jaymes Boland-Rudder, NRL’s Head of Government and Community Relations, said the code is looking forward to working with all stakeholders on the development of the Rozelle Rail Yard masterplan.
“The NRL commends the Inner West Council, NSW Government and WestConnex for working together to deliver a Masterplan for the Rozelle Railyards, with a focus on providing more greenspace and playing fields to enhance sport participation,” he said.
“One of the biggest hurdles to the growth of touch, tag and tackle forms of rugby league in the Inner West is the availability of greenspace and facilities. It’s terrific that the Council and State have identified a large parcel of land which could help overcome this challenge.”
Stuart Hodge, CEO of Football NSW, said the development of Rozelle Rail Yard into a state-of-the-art recreation precinct would be a game-changer for sport in Sydney.
“Football NSW is delighted by the news. We look forward to working - in conjunction with the Canterbury & District Soccer Football Association and Inner West council - to ensure football is properly accommodated in the new multipurpose sporting facility.”
David Murphy, President of Balmain Little Athletics Centre, the largest junior athletics club in Australia, said his club is keen to start working with other local clubs and sporting groups to help transform the Rozelle Rail Yard site into Sydney’s next premier sporting and community precinct.
“We have been in the unfortunate position of having to turn away keen kids due to facility constraints. Any potential development of a new athletics facility would allow us to offer Athletics, which is the foundation activity for all sports, to every local boy and girl who wanted to join and also assist all those budding para-athletes an opportunity to participate to their huge potential.