Minns Government unlocks sporting and entertainment precincts

This amendment to the Sporting Venues Authorities Act, while small in stature, is big on outcome. It is a decisive step forward to unlock the potential of Venues NSW as a powerhouse of employment, and tourism for NSW and Australia.

The amendment will allow for the development of visitor and residential accommodation on Venues NSW land, which was previously prohibited, allowing NSW’s premier stadiums and entertainment centres to create vibrant and accessible precincts to be enjoyed by the community all-year round.

The Venues NSW network of sporting and entertainment precincts comprises more than $4 billion of public community assets, which host some 500 major events, attracting upwards of five million attendees each year.

In the Illawarra, Venues NSW owns and operates WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre, both of which are significant contributors to the region's visitor economy. CommBank Stadium in Parramatta has quickly become an integral part of the Western Sydney community since the new stadium opened in 2019 but it currently sits next to a vacant block of unutilised land.

A final business case for the development of the 63-hectare Hunter Park in Newcastle has also been completed but without this amendment the land will remain locked up.

Accommodation on Venues NSW land would significantly enhance the visitor economy, strengthen the customer experience, boost tourism and support the growing needs of growing western Sydney and regional communities.

Conveniently located accommodation offerings will contribute to NSW’s ambition of growing the visitor economy to $91 billion annually by 2035, which will require an additional 40,400 rooms to reach its target.

Future accommodation offerings will leverage significant transport investments, including the new Western Sydney Airport, and major upgrades to Newcastle Airport, that will see an influx of visitors to NSW.

The current development controls at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground precinct will continue.

Minister for Sport and Minster for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Our stadiums and entertainment centres are fantastic facilities, but they also represent a massive opportunity.

“This one small change will have a lasting impact which will unlock the potential of our state’s premier stadiums and entertainment centre as vibrant and cohesive precincts, building on the Government’s decision to increase the concert cap at our stadia.

“NSW is in needs 40,000 hotel rooms in the next decade if we are to reach our visitor economy targets, and the need for more housing is challenge across the state.

“What better way of realising our targets than by providing new hotel and residential offerings on the surplus lands of our favourite sport and entertainment venues.”