Win For Roosters Fans at Moore Park……

Sydney Roosters Members and fans have been boosted by an announcement earlier this week that the NSW Government will introduce legislation that extends on-grass parking at Moore Park whilst supplementary parking solutions are being built.

The move ensures Roosters home games at Allianz Stadium are accessible to all fans and not just those nearby or those who have easy access to public transport.

The grass at Moore Park East has been used as a game day carpark for a century.

The Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust Act currently includes deadlines for removing all on-grass parking near Kippax Lake and the south of Moore Park East, opposite the SCG and Hordern Pavilion.

Work is underway by Venues NSW to develop a new carpark that will offset the removal of all on-grass parking near Kippax Lake adjacent to the Roosters training field. However, the expected carpark completion date is late 2025, two years after the current 31 December 2023 legislated deadline.

It means thousands of parking spots will disappear without alternative parking arrangements being in place to ensure no overall loss of parking in the precinct.

This significant shortage will disproportionately affect NSW residents who still must drive to attend events at the world-class Allianz Stadium and the SCG.

This is particularly crucial for young families, the elderly, those with accessibility needs, and those travelling from Western Sydney and regional NSW.

The NSW Government will bring legislative amendments that will extend the operation of Lower Kippax until the Venues NSW carpark is completed (expected in late 2025), and until a solution to offset the parking at the Showground (also known as EP3) is established.

The financial impact of not having a viable parking solution is significant. Venues NSW has estimated an $18 million dollar revenue loss, with the local visitor economy set to lose $30 million across 66 event days per year.

650 spaces have already been removed from the grass opposite Allianz Stadium on the corner of Moore Park Road and Anzac Parade known as Upper Kippax. The next – 350 spaces opposite Allianz Stadium, known as Lower Kippax, are slated to be removed on 31 December 2023. 1,100 spaces opposite the SCG, known as EP3, will be gone from 31 December 2025.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said: “Moore Park has been used for parking for decades. But it doesn’t make sense to shut off access to thousands of parking spaces before the new carpark is complete.

“This is about ensuring people who travel from Western Sydney or around the state for sports and entertainment at Moore Park have equal access to parking.

“These public facilities need to be accessible to all residents, not just those nearby or those who have easy access to public transport.”

Sydney Roosters Chief Executive Officer Joe Kelly welcomed the Government’s move and urged all Members of Parliament to support these legislative changes when they come before the Parliament.

“We welcome these proposed changes, and it will benefit a large amount of Roosters families and supporters who live right across our great state,” he said.

“Many find it more convenient to drive and park rather than use the improved public transport facilities that we are also grateful for.

“We look forward to working with the Government and other precinct stakeholders to find suitable alternative car parking solutions and parking coming off the grass in the future,” he added.