Mayor demands a home for West Tigers

DEVELOPER Ian Wright has rejected claims there is no signed agreement for the Tigers to have a permanent home.

2013.02.08 Tigers

ROZELLE Village developer Ian Wright has rejected claims there is no signed agreement for the Tigers to have a permanent home within the leagues club redevelopment.

Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne said the developer of the 24-storey tower project needed to guarantee the Tigers a home for the next 100 years if they were serious about the survival of the rugby league club.

Cr Byrne said those behind the $217 million development before the Planning Assessment Commission were "exploiting'' Wests Tigers fans.

The revised plans include two 22-storey residential towers on top of a two- to three-storey podium the same height as the club.

The podium will include space for a Tigers club, but Cr Byrne said there was no long-term lease agreement.

Tigers officials have also rejected claims the club has organised a public rally for March 2 in support of the development, with interim chief executive Danny Munk saying a "small number of passionate Tigers supporters'' were behind the idea.

Cr Byrne said the developers "need to turn up to this rally with a written agreement saying they'll give the Tigers a permanent home for the next 100 years rent-free.

''But Mr Wright said the Tigers and Rozelle Village signed an agreement of lease in May 2010 for an initial 15-year term, with three 15-year options.

It's a 60-year term,'' Mr Wright said. "The finer details have not been determined yet, but it's a binding agreement. Those are also the terms the club wanted.''