Currently the Sporting Venues Authorities Act does not allow hotels or residential dwellings to be built on land owned by Venues NSW.
The change could create new options for business events organisers, with hotel accommodation able to be co-located with venue spaces.
Most immediately the legislation change could have a big impact in Newcastle for the area around McDonald Jones Stadium. There is also potential for accommodation to be built next to CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
In Newcastle, McDonald Jones Stadium sits in close proximity to both Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Newcastle Showground and there are plans to transform an area of some 63ha into a mixed-use precinct, which would see various sporting venues sit alongside hotel and residential accommodation.
The plan includes relocating the entertainment centre and building a new indoor arena.
In Parramatta there is vacant land beside Commbank Stadium which could become a hotel site.
“Our stadiums and entertainment centres are fantastic facilities, but they also represent a massive opportunity,” said the NSW sport and tourism minister, Steve Kamper.
“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 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 [a] 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.”
The state government said current planning restrictions around the Sydney Cricket Ground precinct in inner city Sydney would remain unchanged.
