Leichhardt Oval railing collapse now under investigation

A Sydney mayor says the local council will investigate the safety of Leichhardt Oval in the inner west after a railing collapsed during a rugby match on Saturday, sending spectators tumbling onto the concrete below.

Amid furious debate over state government funding for upgrades to suburban sporting venues, Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said the collapse during the game between Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview and St Joseph’s College was “incredibly dangerous”.

“The footage is shocking ... We are making the site safe and will fully investigate the safety risks this raises,” Cr Byrne said.

Video of the incident shows a group of men jumping up and down after their team scored before the railing they were leaning on collapsed, sending the spectators tumbling about a metre-and-a-half to the ground. The men did not appear to be seriously injured. A second video showed other spectators laughing at what had happened.

Paramedics said no-one was taken to hospital after the accident. An estimated crowd of 15,000 attended the annual rugby fixture between the private schools.

Ali Cant was at the match when the group of 30 people, who were friends from St Joseph’s graduating class of 2021, fell to the concrete. Cant’s 19-year-old son, Joseph, was part of the pileup and said four or five young men were badly injured.

“There were a few concussions, and Joe’s mate had broken his scapula,” Cant told Nine News.

The incident follows Premier Dominic Perrottet’s decision to scrap plans to invest $250 million in suburban sports grounds, which ignited a battle between the NRL and state government over stadium funding last week.

Leichhardt Oval on Sunday after the railing collapse.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Leichhardt Oval was earmarked for a $50 million facelift under the state government’s funding pledge, while Manly and Cronulla’s home grounds were expected to receive about $100 million each. Plans to build a new $300 million stadium in Penrith, which is the electorate of former deputy NSW Liberals leader Stuart Ayres, remain on track.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys declined to comment on the Leichhardt Oval incident on Sunday.

In a council statement last Wednesday, Byrne – who is a Labor councillor – accused the government of “pork-barrelling” in Ayres’ seat. He said the redeveloped Penrith Stadium would host the Penrith Panthers for 11 games per year, while Leichhardt Oval hosted more than 50 games a year for multiple sporting codes.

“Dominic Perrottet is happy to spend $300 million in Stuart Ayres’ seat to build a shiny, new Panthers Stadium for the exclusive use of one club.

“But the Wests Tigers, and all the other senior and junior, men’s and women’s Rugby League, soccer and Rugby Union teams who regularly use Leichhardt Oval get nothing,” Byrne said.

The council’s deputy mayor, Labor councillor Jessica D’Arienzo, said in the statement the council was “simply asking for some help” to provide decent facilities for the fans and athletes who used Leichhardt Oval.

“With a fraction of what’s been earmarked for Stuart Ayres’ seat, we can build an upgraded and expanded grandstand, decent catering and toilet facilities for patrons and female-friendly dressing rooms while preserving the heritage Wayne Pearce Hill and Keith Barnes Grandstand,” D’Arienzo said.

On Friday, Sport Minister Alister Henskens said the government was consulting on a range of options for the Penrith Stadium redevelopment, which he said would deliver a “state-of-the-art” sporting venue.

“The cost and timing of construction for a new stadium will be confirmed once the consultation is completed and the scope for the new Penrith Stadium has been determined.

“The NSW government remains committed to upgrading suburban stadiums, however, following recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is appropriate that further investment in stadia is staged,” Henskens said.

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