Council to vote on $10 million to save Leichhardt Oval

Thursday 30 May 2024

Media release
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today convened an extraordinary meeting of Council to vote on allocating $10 million of Council funds to save Leichhardt Oval.

The meeting, to be held next Tuesday 4 June, will consider a proposal from the Mayor to commit these funds to renovating the famous ground as well as $40 million to the renovation of Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, located next door to the Oval.

The combined $50 million investment will support a Leichhardt Park Sport and Recreation Precinct, providing modern swimming, rehabilitation and gymnasium facilities for sporting teams using Leichhardt Oval for training and games.

Please find attached the Mayoral Minute to be voted on (PDF 82.7KB).

“It’s now or never for Leichhardt Oval and it’s time for Council to make a significant new financial commitment to saving the Eighth Wonder of the World,” Byrne said.

“$10 million in new investment to upgrade Leichhardt Oval can fund important parts of the Masterplan including female friendly change rooms, which is our highest priority.

“At the same time, we can also invest $40 million into the renovation of Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre.

“The Olympic Pool has come to the end of its lifecycle and needs to be replaced and we will deliver a new 25-metre pool which will be useable for a range of sports as well as rehabilitation and recovery.

“We have been carefully planning the upgrade of the Aquatic Centre, which is used by hundreds of thousands of people each year. This is a core local government responsibility.

“Together this $50 million investment will help create a Leichhardt Park Sport and Recreation Precinct that can be used by the whole community as well as a wide variety of sporting teams for many years to come.”

Ends

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