Darcy Byrne: Inner west mayor slams ‘very deliberate approach’ as Brookvale gets major facelift

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne has slammed the impending redevelopment of Brookvale Oval, calling it another blue-ribbon Liberal seat getting attention at the expense of the inner city.

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne has slammed the state government amid reports a significant redevelopment of Manly’s Brookvale Oval could be confirmed within days, labelling the snub of Leichhardt Oval snub as “deliberate”.

Sources told News Corp earlier today that it was a “matter of weeks, even days” to the announcement of a total reconfiguration of Brookvale Oval – known for sponsorship reasons as 4 Pines Park.

Mayor Byrne – a longstanding Wests Tigers fan – has called the reports a “very deliberate approach” to favour blue-ribbon Liberal seats and overlook the inner west and other, non-Liberal voting electorates.

One of six redevelopment plans for Brookvale Oval, which is expected to receive a major facelift from the state government.

“The state government has been absolutely deliberate in only funding grounds in areas that suit them politically,” he said.

“Millions spent on Commbank Stadium in Parramatta, millions to be spent on Penrith Stadium in Stuart Ayres’ electorate, however many millions now for Brookvale in a blue-ribbon Liberal seat.

“They’re quite deliberately avoiding giving support to Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown because they’re not Liberal-voting areas.”

Mayor Darcy Byrne has been a lifelong supporter of the Tigers and an advocate for the ground and the club. Picture: Inner West Council

This comes hot off the heels of the inner west being excluded from a $5 billion grants program funded by the sale of WestConnex.

“Every single council between the CBD and the Blue Mountains is able to apply, except for one,” Mayor Byrne said.

“The inner west – the one council where WestConnex has actually been built.

“They are determined not to spend a single dollar on a seat that they don’t have an interest in – and that’s not governing in the public interest.”

The lack of state government support for Leichhardt Oval seems more puzzling in view of the ground’s increasing popularity with other codes. The Waratahs will play the majority of their Super Rugby home games there and FIFA has designated it as an official training ground at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The new Bob Fulton Stand at Brookvale Oval, Manly.

Leichhardt Oval will host the Waratahs this year and international women’s football teams in 2023, but funding is scarce.

“All the different codes themselves know how fantastic the atmosphere and playing surface is at Leichhardt Oval,” Mayor Byrne said.

“Broadcasters prefer to have games at the oval because the atmosphere is so good that it comes through the television screen.”

Even after approximately $5 million in investment from the Inner West Council, the ground still needs support.

“There’s no future for stadiums like Leichhardt and Campbelltown without the scale of investment that only state and federal funding can provide,” the mayor said.

“But the amenities are outdated, the changing rooms are in poor condition, and there’s not enough modern seating in the ground to make it enticing for West Tigers to play more games there.

“We’re not asking for hundreds of millions of dollars, we don’t want a new Sydney Football Stadium, but we do need a fair level of investment.”

Dominic Perrottet at his office at state parliament with a West Tigers football. The Premier is reportedly a fan of the club. Picture: Mark Evans

Mayor Byrne said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was a rugby league fan and a Wests Tigers fan only when it suited him.

“The Premier has turned up at Leichhardt Oval to give himself an everyman image of being a rugby league fan, while systematically ensuring that the stadium doesn’t get any support,” the mayor said.

“When it comes to sport it doesn’t matter what side of politics you come from – but it’s clear it does matter to the Premier.

“He wants to go round in Tiger’s colours for photo opportunities, but I think he’s going to get a pretty cold reception at Leichhardt Oval if he has the gall to turn up this year.”