Unfortunately,the debate on the use of the Opera House sails to promote The Everest internationally has been progressing without the correct facts,which I detail below.
Before I do,I should also stress that Racing NSW sought only to use the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We had a plan to do just that and had been careful to make sure it would not have inconvenienced Sydney drivers.
Accordingly,we had been in talks with at least four government departments for at least 12 months about using the bridge. Only at the last minute did we learn that approval had not been given.
The Opera House was the alternative venue put forward by the NSW government,which wanted to help promote the event,as it had done for other sporting events.
Racing NSW's whole strategy was that the Harbour Bridge would be used to promote the event in the hope of attracting international visitors to Sydney. Needless to say,that brings money into NSW and provides jobs and economic stimulus. That seems to have been lost in the debate.
Here are the facts: