WIN Entertainment Centre: We'll do the planning, but don't stall on upgrades needed

Cr Bradbery was responding to Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee, who last week said council had taken over planning for the city's entertainment precinct, including the WEC, and declared the building fully functional.

"The WIN Entertainment Centre is currently safe, functional and fit for purpose," Dr Lee said. "Those suggesting otherwise are simply misleading the community.

"The NSW Government has conveyed to Wollongong City Council that it commences a planning process for the precinct which includes Wollongong Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre, because it would significantly boost the region. Having the council carry this out is the most effective and timely way to move forward.

"Whilst the planning process is underway, the NSW Government will continue to invest in the WIN Entertainment Centre to ensure it is a safe and fit-for-purpose venue."

Cr Bradbery said this was no reason to delay much-needed upgrades to the venue - as delivering a precinct plan could take up to a decade.

"Planning's one thing ... but don't use it as a stalling tactic to delay doing the work that's required on the WEC to bring it up to a higher standard," he told the Mercury.

"It's at least ten years behind in being 'refurbed' anyway, and this would just add more to the delay in bring it up to a suitable standard, when the roof leaks, the seats are dreadful, the disabled access is appalling, the whole thing needs that work to be done on it - just to get the asset up to a standard that will last us for another five to ten years before the plans kick in.

"Council will take the lead in planning in the context of the precinct, but in the meantime what do you do? Just sit there and let the asset deteriorate? We need a commitment to at least bring it up to a usable standard."