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State Labor pressed to match NSW Liberal pledges on North Sydney Oval, High Line – North Sydney Sun

State Labor pressed to match NSW Liberal pledges on North Sydney Oval, High Line

By Grahame Lynch

NSW Labor is being pressed ahead of the March 25 election to match commitments from the Coalition state government to spend $11 million on an upgrade of North Sydney Oval and progress the Lavender Bay High Line plan.

North Sydney Council unanimously resolved last week to write to the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Ministers for Sport and Women inviting them to a tour of North Sydney Oval and seeking a commitment that, if elected, they will match the promised funding.

A leading advocate for the High Line, North Sydney councillor Ian Mutton, said he would be seeking similar assurances from NSW Labor.

Earlier this month, the NSW government promised to form a Lavender Bay Rail Corridor Delivery Group which will include representatives from North Sydney Council, the Transport Asset Holding Entity, Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW and the Sydney Harbour High Line Association to develop options for converting the 3.3km rail corridor between Milsons Point and Waverton into a walking trail.

It also promised $11 million to upgrade North Sydney Oval, primarily to entrench its position as the home of women’s cricket in Australia.

At a press conference held at the venue, NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said that the upgrades would improve playing surfaces, spectator seating, food and beverage outlets, and player and officials’ rooms. Other upgrades include improvements to community and stakeholder spaces, public toilet amenities and broadcast media boxes.

MP for North Shore Felicity Wilson told the North Sydney Sun that “What we’ll do is, if we’re re-elected, the $11 million funding will be contributed to council almost immediately. And there’s co-funding. North Sydney Council’s putting a $2.5 million as well. And a couple of codes are putting in some funding, too. So once that money goes to North Sydney Council, they’ll then help manage that for the process. They’re on board and as you know, they’ve been working hand in glove with us to try and get this project up. And so I imagine they’ll do it as quickly as they possibly can.”

Mayor Zoe Baker confirmed that North Sydney Council had a master plan in place for the Oval that was ready to go whenever funding was provided.

“The next step is we’re working closely with Cricket New South Wales and the other codes to make certain we have a fit for purpose oval, in particular for sportswomen,” she told the Sun. She added that the arrival of the Metro station at McLaren St, just one block from North Sydney Oval, would enhance its status as the home of women’s cricket.

“That’s a connection between north, western and south western Sydney. People can come here from all over. I think one of the best things about this beautiful heritage brand is that it’s got a capacity of 8000 and you can get really close to the players.”

NSW Labor’s candidate for North Shore Godfrey Santer told the Sun he was, in-principle, supportive of both projects.

Asked about the North Sydney Oval upgrade, Santer said: “We’ll be in. For sure.” He thinks the Oval is the most beautiful in Australia and a potential tourist drawcard, particularly for cricket fans.
He added that he was also supportive of the High Line proposal.

Santer wants to go one step further with the High Line and consider it as part of a holistic plan to unite waterfront parks and create an attraction to emulate the great parks of other cities such as New York City’s Central Park.

“It should be a holistic approach to that area because if you combine them all and have a thorough going renovation, shall we say, of the entire area, you would have something which would put North Sydney on the map.”