Inner West Council unveils $100 master plan for Leichhardt Oval

Sydney’s Inner West Council has unveiled a $100 million master plan for the Leichhardt Oval that aims to restore the landmark suburban ground.

Features of the upgrade - which requires funding from the Federal and NSW Governments - include a new northern grandstand and major upgrades to the existing western grandstand.

Adopted at a Council meeting on 10th October, the Council will is now communicating with the relevant NSW and Federal Government Ministers seeking a joint funding partnership between all three levels of Government for the Draft Leichhardt Oval Masterplan.

The masterplan, developed by architectural firm COX, splits the upgrade of the existing Western Grandstand into moderate and major options, dependant on the level of funding available for the project.

The moderate option includes upgrade to corporate and media facilities on the upper level, new mezzanine floors at the rear with multi-purpose rooms, and new and upgraded players and public facilities on the ground level. This option would reduce the total project cost to around $45 million.

The major option would see the roof of the grandstand lifted to allow for a new media level, new corporate facilities on the upper level, new public amenities and new and upgraded player and public facilities on the ground level, and new seating between the lower and upper level.

The more expensive option also includes a new 1,580-seat roofed grandstand at the northern end of the ground, while the lower seating bowl around the field would be upgraded to replace existing bench seating and aged seats, with additional rows to the east and west of the field to increasing seating to approximately 4,835.

The Wests Tigers recently announced the club will play five of its 12 NRL home games at Leichhardt Oval in 2024, with five to also played at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Stating that Leichhardt Oval needs improvements, as does the Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Wests Tigers Chief Executive, Justin Pascoe advised “as a club we are wanting and willing to commit to this strategy, but these grounds must be fit for purpose. It’s as simple as that.

“We need facilities to be improved to adequately cater for both NRL and NRLW games.

“It’s bordering on negligent to think that we don’t have female change rooms at these grounds. This is just unacceptable.

“Government must understand that without the appropriate level of funding, these two great home grounds will become obsolete. That is something none of us want.”

However, the long term future of West Tigers may see the club play at a new venue, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting earlier this month that the club, in partnership with Liverpool Council, have approached the NSW Government with a proposal to build a 20,000-seat stadium in the heart of Liverpool CBD, with a view to making it the club’s permanent home.

Leichhardt Oval currently serves as Sydney FC’s primary home ground for A-League Women’s matches for the 2023/24 season and will host two double-headers as part of the recently announced Unite Round where all games will be played in Sydney across one weekend.

Inner West Council completed an upgrade of the amenities and viewing platform at the northern end earlier this year after a railing collapsed during a match last year, sending spectators crashing to the ground.

The 10th October Council meeting also a resolution to incorporate provision for public access to the Wayne Pearce Hill for recreation use based on the same principles as the existing use of Henson Park.

This is to commence with a trial of weekday access, including evenings, to be undertaken from December 2023 to February 2024.

Image: Leichhardt Oval Master Plan. Credit: Inner West Council.