Leichhardt and Campbelltown must not be left out in the cold by the NSW Government
Friday 13 November 2020
Greg Warren, the Member for Campbelltown and Darcy Byrne, Inner West Mayor, have joined forces in calling for fair funding for suburban NRL grounds so that the West Tigers can play more games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and Leichhardt Oval.
The call came following revelations last week that the NSW Government’s new suburban sporting grounds strategy has excluded both grounds from receiving any funding.
“Campbelltown Sports Stadium and Leichhardt Oval are the traditional homes of the Wests Tigers,” said Mr Warren.
“This is not a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul, but it surely makes sense to upgrade what is already there instead on building from scratch.
“From a Campbelltown perspective, Macarthur Bulls FC are set to call the sports stadium home from next season.
“If two of the nation’s top sporting codes can see the value in Campbelltown Sports Stadium, surely the State Government can too,” Mr Warren said.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne agreed.
“Inner West Council has unanimously called for suburban ground funding to be open to a fair and transparent application process,” said Mayor Byrne.
“For years the Government has refused to support suburban grounds, it seems very strange that even after their change of heart that they are deliberately excluding both West Tigers home grounds from receiving funding.
“The NSW Government needs to recognise that the heart and soul of the West Tigers are our fans, and that Campbelltown and Leichhardt are our spiritual homes.
“Leichhardt Oval has not received a single dollar of investment from the NSW Government since they were elected. By contrast, Brookvale Oval, a ground in a blue-ribbon Liberal electorate, has received $42 million in funding since 2013.
“This announcement seems like a continuation of the $252 million council grants slush fund through which money was handed over secretly to favoured seats. Having already been cheated out of $24 million from that slush fund, we are determined to ensure that this new funding for suburban grounds is distributed through a fair and transparent application process, Mayor Byrne said.
For media enquiries, contact Bill Hawker, Mayoral Media Officer, 9392 5685 or bill.hawker@innerwest.nsw.gov.au