Council issues emergency orders for Balmain Leagues Club

Inner West Council has issued emergency orders that require the derelict and dangerous Balmain Leagues Club site to be cleaned up and made safe. This is in response to the NSW Government’s refusal to clean up this dangerous fire safety hazard.

While the Government has just announced that they intend handing the site back to the owner, as of today they remain the lease holder and are responsible for the safety of the site.

Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne said, “This announcement by the Government must be the catalyst for the demolition of this dangerous fire and safety hazard.

“The Government is insisting that demolition is not necessary, using the excuse that they have assessed the building to be "structurally sound".

“They are missing the point - this dangerous eyesore is demonstrably unsafe.

“It’s a derelict building that poses a major fire and safety hazard and it must be knocked down now.

“For almost two years we have been warning the Government about the fire safety risk at this site and they have sat on their hands.

“We have now had to issue emergency orders because the Premier Dom Perrottet and the Transport Minister David Elliott have not done a thing to resolve the matter since the fire ten days ago.

“This wilful neglect is putting the Rozelle community at risk and we are determined that the government needs to do the right thing and demolish this unsafe building urgently.”

A Summary of Council’s Emergency Orders appears below.

For media enquiries please contact Jonny Browne at Jonny.Browne@innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Summary of Council Emergency Orders

• That the site is to be made secure through both boarding of all openings and the installation of hoarding on street frontages
• Brace or otherwise make safe the Victoria St frontage destroyed by fire
• Certification from appropriate specialists regarding
  • the structural integrity of the buildings and
  • associated bracing
  • clean up of asbestos on site (or clearance certificates as appropriate)

In particular and in addition to the above Council seeks the specific provision of certification from a structural engineer as to the structural integrity of the entirety of the building.