Forgotten $100 million master plan to save Leichhardt Oval after Chris Minns rejects Wests Tigers funding plea

While a lack of funding has left Leichhardt Oval on life support, a $100 million master plan has emerged that could potentially save the Eighth Wonder Of The World.

Premier Chris Minns.

This is the $100 million master plan that inner west council hope can save Leichhardt Oval. The plan has been gathering dust on a shelf at council headquarters for months as mayor Darcy Byrne – and the Wests Tigers – plead with the state government to spend some money on the decaying venue.

Thus far, those pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Premier Chris Minns has flatly rejected any suggestion that money could be directed towards suburban stadiums, leaving Leichhardt Oval on its last legs.

Under the plan, multiple concepts are considered for the refurbishment of the famous ground. The cheapest option would cost around $5 million and include a new stand at the northern end of the ground, upgraded seating, general improvements and a two-level car park.

The most expensive option would come in at $98.3 million and include an upgraded western stand with expanded corporate facilities as well as dressing rooms.

Darcy Byrne (left) has been pleading to Chris Minns (right) and the state government to save Leichhardt Oval.

Leichhardt Oval Master Plan. Picture: Inner West Council

The plan was finalised late last year but money remains the issue and the Tigers are running out of time. The club wants to make a decision about home games for next season and as it stands, Leichhardt Oval is unlikely to be one of their destinations.

Instead, Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson is looking at alternatives where the club can provide their fans with better facilities and the club can make more money.

“Council has developed a draft master plan to upgrade and renovate facilities at Leichhardt Oval,” the council document says.

“The draft master plan seeks to preserve and protect the heritage of the ground, including the Wayne Pearce Hill and Keith Barnes Stand, while providing the modern seating and facilities the ground desperately needs.

“The draft master plan sets the vision, identify opportunities and develop a design blueprint for future improvements at Leichhardt Oval over the next ten years.”

CHRIS MINNS REJECTS WESTS TIGERS FUNDING PLEA

Leichhardt Oval is officially on life support after premier Chris Minns declared there would be no rescue package for the Wests Tigers’ spiritual home.

Premier Minns, in rejecting a plea from the Tigers and local council to spend millions reinvigorating the ground, has effectively signed the death warrant for Leichhardt Oval as an NRL venue.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson hinted afterwards that the club would have little choice but to draw the curtain on their time at the ground at the end of the season given the state government’s stance.

“Governments have to make decisions about the finances of the government,” Richardson said.

“We understand that. Wests Tigers will make decisions for the future of the Wests Tigers.”

That future now looks increasingly away from Leichhardt Oval given the dire state of the ground, which is in serious need of an upgrade.

The Tigers had asked for at least $30 million to aid their cause but walked away with nothing after premier Minns said there was no spare revenue in the government coffers.

Premier Chris Minns.

He also outlined his concerns over the ramifications of spending money on Leichhardt Oval given the Tigers split games between two home grounds — they also play at Campbelltown Stadium.

“My real fear is that we put money into Leichhardt and the week afterwards they say well now we need the money for Campbelltown,” Minns said.

“These things have got to be finely balanced and I’d love to have the spare revenue to pump into a suburban stadium at the moment, but I don’t have it.”

The Tigers now look certain to take games away from Leichhardt Oval next season as they look to generate more money from home games and provide their supporters with better facilities.

Accor and CommBank Stadiums shape as the logical alternatives given both grounds are located in western Sydney.

“I appreciate that (the Tigers) have got to make a decision about their club and where they play their home games,” Minns said.

“But we, as everybody knows, have got $180 billion worth of debt in NSW. We’ve got massive pressure on the hospital system, education system.

“In addition to that we are rolling out the biggest public transport in the state’s history and I don’t have spare money at the moment to pump into Leichhardt Oval.”

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has been a strong supporter of suburban grounds, using the grand final to leverage money out of the state government.

The grand final is still up for grabs after this season and its future may hinge on whether V’landys can extricate more cash to help suburban grounds regain their lustre.

In V’landys eyes, the government as landlords owe it to their tenants — the clubs — to keep the stadiums in reasonable condition.

However, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary — formerly at the Tigers — suggested the club shouldn’t be in a rush to update Leichhardt Oval given the way the ground is loved by their fans. There were 16,000 of them at Saturday night’s game against Cronulla.

“Everyone is scrambling for political money,” Cleary said.

“We’ve had to work long and hard for ours and happy to have it la new stadium], and our community deserve it. I’m not saying their [community] doesn’t either.

“What I do know is I got feeling at Leichhardt that everyone there loves it the way it is. Maybe they should keep it that way.”