Demolition of Allianz Stadium to proceed

The levelling of the Sydney Football Stadium is imminent, after a judge dismissed an application to extend a court order preventing major works.

The temporary injunction - put in place in February to allow a challenge to the $730 million project in the Land and Environment Court - was due to expire at 5pm on Friday.

Despite the injunction, soft-demolition works have continued at the Moore Park venue with recent photos showing bulldozers tearing through the turf and seating bowl, sparking anger from some.

With the NSW election little more than two weeks away, it has prompted the opposition to ask why the government can’t just wait.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley said he could hear the “bashing and smashing” behind him as he descended Moore Park yesterday — calling for demolition works to be delayed until the state election.

If they win office, their plan is to renovate the stadium rather than demolish, but it may be too little too late.

Built 30 years ago, the Sydney Football Stadium has fallen well behind other major stadiums, with some suggesting it isn’t safe, while it lacks first-class facilities for fans and amenities for female sport.

Meanwhile, its major tenants, including Sydney FC, Sydney Roosters and the NSW Waratahs are playing at other venues around Sydney with the Waratahs to play their first game of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

All things going to plan, they’ll be back at a brand new world-class 40,000-seat stadium in 2022.