Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres has rejected suggestions a new NRL stadium for Penrith amounts to pork-barrelling in his safe Liberal electorate.

Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium is to be knocked over in 2023 and rebuilt, with prospective designs for the new venue yet to be determined.

Mr Ayres told Jim Wilson Penrith “looms pretty large” in the government’s criteria for new infrastructure, as a “well-located” growing population hub close to train links and the new Western Sydney Airport.

He hopes the 25,000 to 30,000-seat stadium will attract major sporting competitions and musical acts alike.

“Rather than people playing the city and heading off to Newcastle or Wollongong – or even worse, off to another state – I can see people … coming out and playing a stadium concern in Western Sydney.

“What is a population of two million will grow to three million.

“That’s a really strong market, that’s the size of Adelaide, and it’s got a fantastic facility in its own right.”

Press PLAY below to watch the Minister’s response to pork-barrelling claims

As for whether the new stadium will be the first in the state to rival Melbourne’s retractable roofs, Mr Ayres passed the question off to his colleague.

“If Matt Kean, if he’s listening on the radio and he’s prepared to give us a little bit more budget, we can do lots of different things.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview