Long-held plans for a new Leagues Club could be over

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has called on Tiger’s chairman Barry O’Farrell to step up and be a “champion” for a new club as the Balmain Leagues Club’s future remains uncertain.

Inside the old Balmain Leagues Club site in Rozelle. Plans for development of a new Leagues Club might be quashed if the State government decides to use the site during building of the Western Harbour Tunnel. Picture: John Appleyard

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has called on Tiger’s chairman Barry O’Farrell to attend a public meeting in Rozelle on Monday to “champion” for a new club for his fans.

The Tigers have remained silent in the face of threats to plans for a new Balmain Leagues Club if the State Government decides to use the site as an excavation entryway or “dive site” for the Western Harbour Tunnel.

The public meeting on July 8 is aimed at stopping tunnelling at the site.

The Balmain Tigers Leagues Club on Victoria Road. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We’re asking Tigers fans and parents from Rozelle public school to turn out and make clear to the government that we want them to press pause and rethink their disastrous plan for a small mine in the middle of Rozelle,” Cr Byrne said.

“I don’t think it’ll be a very good look for Tigers fans to see an empty chair with his (Barry O’Farrell’s) name on it.”

Heworth took ownership of the Victoria Road block in March 2018 and in May, a $135 million proposal to redevelop the site was submitted to council. The development application included 173 apartments, shops and a new 3010sq m Balmain Leagues Club.

Concept image showing what the redeveloped Balmain Tigers Leagues Club will look like. Picture: Grant Leslie Photography

It went before the Inner West Council on Tuesday, June 25 and was approved by the Development Control Plan. The next step for Heworth is to submit a revised development application, which will be determined by a state government panel.

Heworth development director Brian Hood said the company was amending the site’s DA for submission to council by the end of July, adding their legal advice was not to hesitate with plans.

“We can’t stop them … (but) our plan is to keep moving forward to get the DA approved and replace what is there at the moment, which isn’t much,” he said.

L to R: Managing Director of Heworth Development Brian Hood with Design Principal from Scott Carver, Peter St Clair and State Manager of Urban Jeff Curnow inside the Auditorium of the Balmain Leagues Club site in Rozelle, left derelict since 2009. Picture: John Appleyard

A previous court ruling required a Tigers Leagues club be included in the site’s redevelopment after the Balmain Leagues Club went into voluntary administration in 2018.

A spokesman for the RMS said: “Roads and Maritime has commenced discussions with the relevant parties on the potential temporary use of the former Balmain Leagues Club site to support the construction of Western Harbour Tunnel.”

Barry O’Farrell and the West Tigers declined to comment.