The NSW Government has been on notice for at least seven years that the WIN Entertainment Centre roof was at risk of failing due to corrosion.
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A document leaked to Wollongong MP Paul Scully shows the extent to which the government's own agency, Venues NSW, has been warning that the WEC was "deteriorating" and "suffering from ageing infrastructure" since 2013.
The full extent of the dilapidation was highlighted to a national audience recently, when the televised final Illawarra Hawks game of the season was aborted due to water pooling on the court due to a leaking roof.
The "embarrassing" incident sparked an outcry from Wollongong leaders, who suggested the WEC should be known as "the wreck", and has driven a renewed push for an upgrade.
On Friday, Mr Scully said the document outlined $28 million of improvements which would have allowed the WEC to be upgraded at a fraction of the estimated $80-$100 million it will cost to overhaul the centre now.
"The draft business case prepared nearly a decade ago outlines a litany of problems and provides an upgrade solution ... that could have been delivered at a fraction of the cost that it will take to implement it today," he said.
The document includes the feasibly study which Venues NSW had hoped would lead to funding through the $100 Restart NSW Infrastructure Fund.
However - despite highlighting that the building was at risk of failing due to chronic lack of maintenance, and that an upgrade could inject millions in the Illawarra economy thanks to new events - this bid was deemed ineligible for the Restart shortlist by government officials.
Since then, the WEC has continued to deteriorate, prompting many public campaigns for its renewal.
In the 2013 documents, Venues NSW said the roof cover and other external structures had "corroded".
"As part of the WEC's asset maintenance program, relatively major works have been identified to address the roof corrosion which has occurred as a result of being located on the waterfront," the study said.
"Given their significance, it is suggested that these works should be undertaken as part of a conference centre upgrade."
Other problems identified include uncomfortable seating, poor accessibility, a worn out kitchen, corroding windows and doors, limited audiovisual and rigging facilities, limited wifi, degraded external appearance and a "very industrial look".
Deputy Lord Mayor Tania Brown said most of these problems remained untouched, including the replacement of chairs, improvements to toilets, technology upgrades and physical improvement.
"Had the then O'Farrell Government taken notice of this we would have had an upgraded entertainment centre, more car parking, a boost to economic activity and more local jobs," she said.
"Sadly ... every Premier since has chosen to ignore our needs", Cr Brown said.
Mr Scully and Cr Brown have called on Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee to visit the centre to view the current condition.
Earlier this month, following a fiery Wollongong council debate which criticised the government's inaction, Dr Lee said he had "instructed Venues NSW to finalise consultation with stakeholders and report to me as a priority, with regards to the next steps for the Illawarra Sports and Entertainment Precinct".
"I also advised the mayor the NSW Government is willing to work collaboratively with Wollongong council to establish the best way forward," he said.