Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP, has slammed the NSW Government’s decision to spend $2 billion on rebuilding Sydney stadiums but investing nothing for the upgrade of Wollongong Entertainment Centre despite it being 20 years of age.

NSW Labor has pledged to invest $50 million upgrading Wollongong Entertainment Centre, but the NSW Government has so far resisted investing any funds.

NSW Labor’s funding pledge is contained in the $225 million Illawarra Jobs Action Plan announced during the Wollongong by-election in November 2016.

So far the Wollongong has received no benefit from the $20 billion Rebuilding NSW Infrastructure Program.

Wollongong has been classified as part of metropolitan Sydney and ruled ineligible for funding under a range of programs for regional NSW.

We’ve even lost our free Gong Shuttle Service from 29 January 2018 when Opal fares will be charged for using it.

Yet, the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, told NSW Parliament on 14 November 2017 that “The Illawarra has never had it so good.”

This latest announcement to spend $2 billion on rebuilding Sydney stadiums but investing nothing in Wollongong, including the much-needed upgrade of Wollongong Entertainment Centre, just confirm how out-of-touch the NSW Liberals are.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“Wollongong has missed out completely in the funding of projects under the $20 billion Rebuilding NSW Infrastructure Fund.

“We’ve been lumped in with metropolitan Sydney and ruled ineligible for any funding from regional programs.

“The Government is about to spend $2 billion on Sydney stadiums, yet we can’t even get a look in to upgrade the Wollongong Entertainment Centre despite widespread community support for it and recognised economic benefits and the jobs it would generate.

“The NSW Liberals are simply out-of-touch with the needs of Wollongong and their priorities are all wrong.”