Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has urged Wests Tigers powerbrokers not to shun the ever-expanding Macarthur region following reports linking the club to a new home base in Liverpool.
“Whilst I understand the club’s footprint traverses many boundaries, the importance of the club’s presence in Campbelltown cannot – and should not – be understated or underestimated,” Mr Warren wrote in a letter addressed to club chair Lee Hagipantelis.
The reports suggested potential new venues in south-west Sydney, with Wests Tigers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs named as possible future tenants.
The most likely options being talked about are a new stadium at the 26,000sq metre former Oasis site in Liverpool, which is currently owned by Canterbury Leagues, or a vacant block of land near Western Sydney Airport in Rossmore.
However, Mr Warren urged the club to embrace rather than replace Campbelltown.
“Whilst the reduction in games played each season at Campbelltown Sports Stadium since the inception of the Wests Tigers has drawn criticism from many parts of the local community, I am sure we all agree that a complete absence of the Wests Tigers from Campbelltown would be completely unacceptable,” he said.
Mr Warren pointed out that Macarthur Bulls FC have adopted Campbelltown Sports Stadium as their permanent home base and “they are certainly basking in the rewards of that decision.”