Finally, a $40 million lifeline for Leichhardt Oval

Sydney’s tired Leichhardt Oval will undergo a $40 million overhaul to add a new grandstand and female-friendly change rooms after state and federal governments vowed to help fund the project.

The rundown inner west sports ground has been desperately in need of a makeover, but state and federal governments have previously failed to agree on whether to help the local council pay for them. Paint is peeling off the western grandstand and some toilets are so dilapidated they have been shut for years. In 2022, a railing collapsed mid-match, sending spectators crashing to the ground.

Leichhardt Oval is slipping into a state of disrepair. Credit: Steven Siewert

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce on Friday the Commonwealth will chip in $20 million for the plan, while the NSW government and Inner West Council will each spend $10 million.

Announcing the funding for the project on Thursday, Albanese, who is the local MP in the seat of Grayndler, said there was “nothing better than sitting on Wayne Pearce Hill at Leichhardt Oval”.

“Leichhardt Oval is a place where the faithful can go along and cheer their local sporting teams, and this funding from all three levels of government will ensure that spirit is preserved.”

The project, which will be led by the council, will boost the oval’s seating capacity by 3000.

Premier Chris Minns last month said he was “open” to chipping in some funds, after previously saying there was no way the state’s financial position would enable it to foot a $30 million bill for a major facelift of the stadium.

NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper on Thursday said the funds would “future-proof” the oval and provide “fit-for-purpose facilities for the next generation of elite, amateur and grassroots athletes”.

“Whilst Leichhardt Oval is the spiritual home of the Wests Tigers, this oval has become much more than that. It has become a true community hub and a home for women’s sport.”

In a joint statement, Albanese, Kamper and federal Sport Minister Annika Wells said the “critical” upgrades to the stadium would ensure the safety and comfort of fans and competitors.

“[The oval] has become increasingly expensive to maintain, and significant upgrades are required to ensure it can continue to host elite, amateur and grassroots sporting events and training.

“It is critical we invest in iconic local sporting venues like Leichhardt Oval for the benefit of players, spectators and the wider community,” the statement said.

The venue played a significant role in Australian sport and was on track to host 120 sporting fixtures in 2024, including both men’s and women’s national rugby league matches.

“These venues are a platform for elite women and girls’ sporting competitions, such as NRLW and Women’s A League.”

The council has been spending about $1.4 million per year on Leichhardt in both maintenance and capital works.

That spending includes recent upgrades to the existing change rooms and toilet facilities.

But Mayor Darcy Byrne has repeatedly said the council does not have the funds to pay for the kind of upgrades necessary for the oval to remain a viable NRL venue.

Instead, in 2023 the council devised a masterplan for the oval and called for state and federal government assistance in paying for it.

Leichhardt Oval’s most prominent tenant, the Wests Tigers, has so far refused to commit to its future at the venue.

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