A Sydney court has cleared the path for the Allianz Stadium demolition to start before the NSW election after a community group and local council lost their last-ditch bid to halt the knock-down.
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The NSW Land and Environment Court found the government did not breach its own planning laws for the controversial project and the demolition of the Moore Park stadium could go ahead.
Community group Local Democracy Matters and Waverley Council launched legal action against Infrastructure NSW in an attempt to stop the stadium demolition before the state poll on March 23.
The courtroom showdown halted early demolition works and threatened to derail the Berejiklian government's ambition to bulldoze Allianz and build a replacement stadium for $730 million.
So-called "soft demolition" on the stadium has started, but an injunction preventing "hard demolition" of the walls and roof remains in place until 5pm on Friday.
However, that timeframe could be brought forward when the case returns to court on Thursday to give the community group and council time to consider an appeal.
They argued that the government's plans for the demolition had insufficient public consultation, did not satisfy design excellence requirements and failed to consider contaminated soil on the site.
But Justice Nicola Pain said the government had not failed to meet the requirement's for the project's planning consent as she dismissed both cases on Wednesday afternoon.
Infrastructure NSW's barrister, Sandra Duggan SC, argued during a fast-tracked hearing last month that the case should be "immune to the political stoush" surrounding the redevelopment.
Speaking outside court, Labor leader Michael Daley said the fight against the demolition was "far from over".
"Only a government that is dripping with arrogance would send the wrecking balls in with 18 days to go until the election," he said.
"Premier, do not knock this stadium down. Leave it standing and let the NSW have their say."
Local Democracy Matters spokesman Chris Maltby said the group was disappointed but had not ruled out an appeal.
"We'd like to see [Premier Gladys Berejiklian] take the chance not to do anything. It's only two weeks until the election, that election can be a referendum on the stadium."
Greens MP David Shoebridge said the case had "galvanised community support" and opponents were "likely to be there in civil disobedience and picket to stop the demolition of this stadium either in court or on the streets".
But NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the government would now "focus on getting on with the job of delivering a world-class stadium".
"The people of NSW have a clear choice at the next election. A government that wants to build and grow the state’s future or a Labor party that wants to cut, cancel and cripple NSW."
The court hearing was told that contractor Lendlease intended to start destroying the walls and roof in late February and the delay would likely cost the company tens of thousands of dollars per day.
Tensions flared again over the government's stadium policy this week when Mr Daley vowed to sack the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust board if elected this month.
In an interview with 2GB broadcaster and board member Alan Jones, Mr Daley accused the trust of "colluding" with the Berejiklian government to fund the "unnecessary" stadium knock-down.
Mr Daley has said that demolition of the stadium should not start before March, because an elected Labor government would not rebuild it.
Instead, Labor will force the SCG Trust to repay a maximum $644 million loan to proceed with the upgrade of the existing stadium.
