Although public life in Australia has been restricted, construction of the new Sydney Football Stadium is ongoing as planned. Piling has now began on the site of former Allianz Stadium.

Following the political upheaval, contractor abandoning the site and financial scandal around the replacement of Allianz Stadium with the new Sydney Football Stadium (42,500), it's good to hear some good news for a change.

New South Wales acting sport minister Geoff Lee has confirmed that work is in full swing at the construction site despite overall social disruptions caused by COVID-19. “We're committed to delivering the SFS by the 2022 NRL grand final,” Mr Lee told reporters on Thursday. The grand final is traditionally held in early October.

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This means the time frame is still quite long, allowing intervention in planning. It also helps that the stadium is at an early stage, which enables implementation of special safety protocols before peak employment on site is reached. It's worth remembering that first excavation works were launched in December of 2019, roughly when COVID-19 broke out in Hubei.

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This week piling work began. Over the next few months 1,539 piles are to be struck up to 33 meters into the ground, ensuring stability of the entire stadium. Overall, in 2020 we should only expect works within ground level, including foundation and a vast basement.

This government-funded project is worth A$ 724 million, which means A$ 828 million in total, including demolition of Allianz Stadium ($472m / $540m). It's expected to bring a crucial piece of economic stimulus over the next 2 years, providing work to 800 people on site and numerous subcontractors.

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