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Wests Tigers called a media conference to announce plans for a council-funded upgrade of Leichhardt Oval last Wednesday, now all they have to do is convince the council.
Labor Councillor Darcy Byrne joined Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys to announce the $2 million proposal to replace the seats in the Latchem Robinson grandstand, build new toilets and install a replay screen and scoreboard, as reported in last Thursday’s Courier.
“Leichhardt Oval is rugby league’s most loved venue and we are all very conscious of preserving its character and personality,” Mr Humphreys told reporters.
Cr Byrne said local Labor was committed to seeing the upgrade completed.
The problem for Wests however is that local Labor have only two of the twelve councillors at Leichhardt, and the remainding 10 were not impressed about being blindsided by the joint announcement.
“We’re disappointed that Cr Byrne called on Council to spend money that is not available through the local media,” Liberal councillor Vera Hannaford told the Courier. “Surely if he were serious he would have engaged Council first before floating the idea in the media.”
Liberal Councillor Gordon Weiss said the council had already shown its support for Wests Tigers by successfully seeking Federal and State Government grant monies to upgrade the playing surface and facilities at Leichhardt Oval.
He said directing $2 million of ratepayers money towards another upgrade seemed “wrong” given the lack of facilities for junior sport in the area.
The Greens, who hold a majority of seats on the council, were no less shocked by the announcement.
Greens Mayor Jamie Parker said the council would take a closer look a the proposal, but noted there was an urgent to need to upgrade a “a range of facilities in the muncipality including Blackmore Oval and Lambert Park”.
“The challenge is finding the funding to meet these important needs,” Cr Parker said.
Labor Councillor Darcy Byrne joined Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys to announce the $2 million proposal to replace the seats in the Latchem Robinson grandstand, build new toilets and install a replay screen and scoreboard, as reported in last Thursday’s Courier.
“Leichhardt Oval is rugby league’s most loved venue and we are all very conscious of preserving its character and personality,” Mr Humphreys told reporters.
Cr Byrne said local Labor was committed to seeing the upgrade completed.
The problem for Wests however is that local Labor have only two of the twelve councillors at Leichhardt, and the remainding 10 were not impressed about being blindsided by the joint announcement.
“We’re disappointed that Cr Byrne called on Council to spend money that is not available through the local media,” Liberal councillor Vera Hannaford told the Courier. “Surely if he were serious he would have engaged Council first before floating the idea in the media.”
Liberal Councillor Gordon Weiss said the council had already shown its support for Wests Tigers by successfully seeking Federal and State Government grant monies to upgrade the playing surface and facilities at Leichhardt Oval.
He said directing $2 million of ratepayers money towards another upgrade seemed “wrong” given the lack of facilities for junior sport in the area.
The Greens, who hold a majority of seats on the council, were no less shocked by the announcement.
Greens Mayor Jamie Parker said the council would take a closer look a the proposal, but noted there was an urgent to need to upgrade a “a range of facilities in the muncipality including Blackmore Oval and Lambert Park”.
“The challenge is finding the funding to meet these important needs,” Cr Parker said.
