Inner west Mayor Darcy Byrne lashes developer Heworth over Balmain Leagues Club development delay

A decaying inner west leagues club is set to remain in a state of ruin for the foreseeable future, after developers delayed demolition to reassess plans for the site. See what it means here.

WEEKEND TELEGRAPH, MAY 7, 2022: Fire damage to the building on the site of the old Balmain Leagues Club on Victoria Road in Rozelle. Picture: Damian Shaw

The deralict Balmain Leagues Club – labelled as a “dangerous eyesore” – has sparked outrage after revelations developers behind ambitious plans for the site will delay its demolition to revise plans.

The Balmain Leagues Club site, which has been vacant for 15-years, was set to be demolished for an approved 12-storey mixed-use development.

Chinese developer Heworth has informed Inner West Council he intends to apply to the NSW Government for a 30 per cent density bonus on the site which allows him to add extra height and density to the complex which will delay the demolition process.

The developer gained planning approval in 2020 to rebuild the former home of the Wests Tigers in a mixed-use precinct with 167 apartments in buildings up to 12-storeys.

However, after applying for the new affordable housing bonus Heworth will be able to build up to 16-storeys.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne

“This is frustrating news, this derelict building is a dangerous eyesore that should have been knocked down many years ago,” Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said.

“Heworth and TfNSW have failed our community by continually refusing to demolish this blight on the Rozelle neighbourhood.”

Vacant Balmain Leagues Club after a fire in 2022

“Perhaps the Balmain Leagues Club site is cursed, this planning fiasco has dragged on for far too long.”

According to Cr Byrne, Heworth will claim that despite already having approval for a large-scale development, they need to increase the scale to achieve financial viability.

This comes off the back of Heworth commencing legal proceedings against Transport for NSW, seeking millions in compensation for the former Government’s decision to compulsorily acquire the site in 2018 to build the Western Harbour Tunnel, which they subsequently reneged on.

“The truth is there’s no excuse for failing to demolish this dangerous derelict building right now and the transport agency is doing yet another disservice to our local community by failing to come to a settlement with Heworth,” Cr Byrne said.

“It seems obvious that when a government agency acquires a private property and then reneges on the process after 2 years, some compensation should be paid.”