Quirky twist in stadium lease issue

The future management of Penrith Whitewater Stadium (PWS) has become even more murky during Penrith City Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Monday night.

It was revealed that a 21-year lease between the State Government, which owns the land, and Penrith City Council, which operates the site, that expired on December 31, 2021, was in fact never signed in the first place.

Since December, PWS has been running the venue under a permission to occupy, but the Office of Strategic Lands need a lease to be finalised as a legal requirement.

With a new temporary lease drafted set to expire on June 30, 2023, Councillor Karen McKeown shared her opinion, saying she found it “absolutely ridiculous” that there was no decision on what government department “wants to own it on their bottom line”.

“We need some finality, the Whitewater themselves need some certainty, the staff need some resolution on where they sit,” McKeown said.

“The staff especially have been very worried about what their fate will be in this.”

The possibility of the State Government opting for a short-term lease to bring the stadium back into control with the other Olympic venues was one described as a “great outcome” by Councillor Mark Davies that could result in certainty and proper funding.

Looking to approve the recommendation to sign the temporary lease, Councillor Ross Fowler said the future of the staff was paramount no matter who controls the property.

“Rest assured whilst there might not be anything signed, the operations are being conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations that they need to be,” he said.

“We need to as a Council make sure that the employment of these people going forward is secured because there is no way the Office of Sport can operate without them.”

A request for a further report to be taken back to a Councillor briefing was carried.