Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment

It is not of state significance. Please provide grounds why it is. It is a heritage oval that should remain unchanged with upgrades within the existing buildings. The heritage of this site will be lost. Trees should not be cut down there are too many to go. The local area cannot cope with the amount of traffic. Inner-west Council does not ensure surrounding streets are effectively managed and it is really dangerous with the amount of cars and congestion. If it went ahead the whole area and ALL surrounding streets require stricter restrictions to support local residents. This is in a local area that cannot cope with an increased influx of traffic.

The EIS does not outline the impact of the project on patrons of Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre. The council should reserve some parking for aquatic centre patrons so they can park in the car park on game days. People attending games at the Oval should be discouraged from using the aquatic centre car park.

Orange Grove Public School provides parking on game days. This was not mentioned in the parking information.

The parking survey did not include streets on the other side of the City West Link. On game days in Hubert St Leichhardt we know not to move our cars because match attendees park in our street.

Submission to NSW Planning over Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment,
SAVING SYDNEYS TREES (SST) writes in Objection and Concern over the current plans to refurbish Leichhardt Oval which will diminish the Historical and Environmental Assets of the area .
We feel the enormous loss of tree canopy and habitat along with Climate aspect and degradation does not fit within the expectations of the Public's best Long term interests but is rather bias towards a minority of the public (ie. those who are involved in this one aspect of sport.)

The Loss of such enormous volume of air purifying and cooling amenity for a grandstand is simply unacceptable in this City that has declared a "Climate Emergency". The Arborist report indicates these Historically Valuable trees are in good health and is calling for them to be located elsewhere within the site. This capacity for such volume is seen nowhere within the plans. We make note that given the scale of the current plan this cannot be achieved and we urge NSW Planning to look at creating internal upgrade while keeping the character and Cultural asset this existing Venue provides for ALL the Community.

The Hills Figs in this landscape have hundreds of years expected life span, which is seen in many of our still existing Historical and Significant Environmental corridors. These are also part of Sydneys survival corridors for our wildlife and ambience for it's residents.
Offsets can not be provided in area and under Sydneys' climatic demands and diminishing canopy which is continually coming with calls to increase it, any suggestion of such a practice is seen as negligent.

Environmental Impact reports indicate little in the way of any connection with regard to these assets in the design parameters...They are simply not recorded or obvious in this suggestion.
The noise and pollution buffer offered by these trees is also missing from any Environmentally acceptable appraisal

Feedback to SST indicates there is very little real desire from the wider Community for this project and suggest NSW $$'s could be better spent elsewhere.

We feel the removal of trees and amenity to the wider and Compressed Living of this area requires retention of these Significant and beneficial trees and urge you to reconsider their removal.

Most Sincerely
Margaret Hogg
(On Behalf Of)
Saving Sydneys Trees
0417474577

While I appreciate the need to improve the amenity at Leichhardt Oval, I am astounded at how little thought has gone into making the redevelopment work in the context of the environment it is situated. Leichhardt Oval sits squarely within a residential area and no consideration has been given to that.

I object to this project as the proposal has not addressed in any way, the impact on local residents. I live a 1 minute walk away from Leichhardt Oval and on match days, it is impossible for me to park on my street or anywhere in the surrounding local area. This is confirmed by your data - the traffic analysis included in Appendix O to your proposal shows that 81% of attendees travel to the Oval by private vehicle on match days and park in surrounding streets. Most homes in the area do not have parking spaces and it is extremely difficult for me to find a parking spot for my one, small car on most days. On match days, it is next to impossible for me to park not just in my street, by anywhere in the local area. It has gotten to a point where I cannot invite friends or family over as they cannot find any parking if they visit me if there is an event on at Leichhardt Oval. The quality of life for local residents is already compromised and I have real concerns that the new development will only make things worse. The green transport plan included in the proposal is bordering on laughable - the actions are focussed only on providing attendees with information and encouragement. No proper actions or measures have been identified to make public transport the predominate means of travel to events.

If this development is to proceed, at a bare minimum, my expectation is that:
(1) the currently Leichhardt Oval parking lot is developed into a multi-storey carpark with circa 15,000 car space (which represents 81% of the estimated 19,000 capacity of Leichhardt Oval identified in the proposal, given your traffic assessment shows that 81% of attendees travel to Leichhardt Oval via private vehicle and park on local streets, displacing resident parking). If the NSW Government is serious about Leichhardt Oval being a modern sports hub, providing this amenity is basic requirement (just look anywhere in the world) and absolutely essential given the vast majority of attendees park on local streets, making it almost impossible for locals to go about their day-to-day activities.
(2) local roads are closed to non-residents when Leichhardt Oval events are on. Unless measures like these are taken, attendees will not take public transport to events.
(3) Event organised should be REQUIRED (not simply 'encouraged') to liaise with Transport for NSW regarding transport arrangements for matches. It is astonishing to me how little thought, common-sense and practicality has gone into transport arrangements. It makes a complete mockery of the 'green travel plan' that you have as part of the proposal and seems just to be lip-service, given there are absolutely no practical measures included in this. Specific travel buses (such as those used for the SCG) would be one solution that is quick and easy to implement. Transport for NSW has to take proactive measures to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to get attendees to and from Leichhardt Oval.

I’m writing to express my strong support for the proposed upgrades to Leichhardt Oval. This project is a fantastic investment in the Inner West, offering great benefits for both our community and the local economy.

Upgrading the western grandstand and seating, while adding a new northern stand, will improve the stadium’s capacity and accessibility. It’ll make for a much better experience for locals, athletes, and visitors alike.

Modernising the facilities will also play a key role in revitalising the area, boosting local business through increased attendance. These upgrades ensure Leichhardt Oval continues to serve as a welcoming, community-focused venue for generations to come.

I support the project but am disappointed in some of the alterations that have occurred since the initial plans were released. Obviously the removal of a roof from the new stand to be built at the northern end of the ground is the most glaringly obvious issue. For a venue that already lacks undercover seating this alteration from the original plans makes no sense when you are trying to future proof the venue. The venue hosts a number of evening events throughout a year,also being in the middle of winter, More undercover areas would be of great benefit especially on wet nights not to mention providing shade from the sun on warmer days.
This also limits opportunity for more corporate facilities within the newly created stand. My understanding was that creating greater space for corporate facilities was a priority for the Wests Tigers club in making playing matches at Leichhardt Oval financially feasible in the long term. While corporate facilities will improve in the new main grandstand it would be an obvious missed opportunity to not cater for more within the new stand.

Thank you for considering my thoughts

Kind Regards
Andrew Dickinson

I support the project

It is great that Leichhardt Oval is being refurbished. The original plans showed a roof over the Northern Stand. The updated plans showed no roof on the Northern Stand. It makes no point at all to have a new stand without a roof. It will obviously protect supporters from the elements if there is a roof on the stand including from rain, hot sun, wind, winter chill etc. I would urge you to re-evaluate this plan and find additional money if required to ensure there is a roof on the Northern stand.
Regards,
Michael Shepherd

I am concerned about the plans to remove 11 significant trees, the majority with HIGH retention value (40 years of life left) from the back of the grandstand area. The plans suggest replacement trees will be planted elsewhere on the site. This is a simplistic easy way out response, these replacements will take decades to reach the same levels as those existing, and are unlikely to be monitored once the trees are removed. There is no suggestion of just where, and with what, the replacements will be made.
This area is one of the few true canopy areas within the Inner West Council and it must not be undervalued. This Council area has a significantly lower canopy than all other areas of Sydney, and despite Council claims of planting trees in the area, the canopy continues to be denuded. It is a tragedy to see these trees go, to allow for building of a sports grandstand which is not constantly being used. It will impact the environment and natural habitat to a huge degree.
It is also in fact very difficult for the general public to realise how many large trees are being taken out, with the professional plans open to the public hard to decipher, without studying the appendices in detail. I will be raising this concern with as many stakeholders and others as possible.

Submission: Objection to SSD-85149458 – Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment

I am lodging a formal objection to the proposed removal of 13 mature fig trees as part of the Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment project (SSD-85149458).

I strongly oppose any design outcome that results in the loss of these established trees.

These figs are decades old and provide critical, irreplaceable community infrastructure in the form of shade, cooling, stormwater management, biodiversity habitat, and everyday public amenity. Their removal would create permanent negative impacts that cannot be meaningfully offset by replacement planting.

My key concerns are as follows:
1. Loss of Critical Urban Canopy and Increased Heat Risk
The removal of mature figs will directly increase local temperatures and reduce thermal comfort for residents, spectators, players, volunteers and nearby households. Established trees deliver cooling through shade and evapotranspiration. Young replacement plantings will take decades to provide comparable benefits. This project risks worsening the urban heat island effect in an already dense Inner West environment.
2. Public Health Impacts
Reduced shade and increased heat exposure present genuine public health risks, particularly for children, elderly residents, and vulnerable community members. Decisions that increase heat exposure are effectively public health decisions.
3. False Equivalence of Tree “Offsets”
Replacement planting does not provide functional equivalence. A 60–80 year old fig tree cannot be replaced by small new trees within any relevant timeframe. The community will experience an immediate and long-term net loss of shade and amenity.
4. Stormwater and Environmental Impacts
Mature trees intercept rainfall, reduce runoff, stabilise soil and support biodiversity. Their removal will increase hard surfaces and place additional pressure on local drainage systems.
5. Conflict with Climate and Canopy Objectives
The loss of established canopy contradicts Council and State Government objectives around urban cooling, climate adaptation, and increasing urban tree cover. Approving significant canopy removal undermines these strategic goals.
6. Amenity and Character
The fig trees are integral to the identity and usability of the Leichhardt Oval precinct. Their removal would permanently degrade the character and everyday comfort of this public space.

⸻

Requested Actions

I request that the consent authority require the following as conditions of any approval:
1. A clear commitment to retain the mature fig trees wherever feasible.
2. A mandatory design review to avoid tree removal, including reconsideration of footprint, structure location, construction methodology, and staging.
3. An independent arborist assessment and transparent options analysis demonstrating that retention has been prioritised as the first principle.
4. A requirement for microclimate and thermal comfort modelling to prove the project will not increase heat risk in the precinct.
5. An enforceable condition of “NO NET LOSS OF SHADE”, measured by canopy cover and summer thermal comfort outcomes, not by simple tree replacement numbers.
6. If any removal is deemed absolutely unavoidable, a legally binding, long-term canopy replacement strategy with funded maintenance and measurable shade outcomes.

⸻

Conclusion

The community supports upgrading Leichhardt Oval.

However, upgrades must not come at the cost of irreplaceable mature canopy that protects our suburb from heat and provides daily public benefit.

I urge the Department and Council to require a design outcome that preserves these trees and ensures that this project delivers a genuine net benefit to the Inner West community.

Hi,
I’ve attached plans for Leichhardt Oval made in the 70s
It’s the best plans I’ve seen for the oval.
We should stick that plan that is future proof.

Take care,
Con

I am a long-time local and regular user of Leichhardt Oval.
The best part of Leichhardt Oval is the hill. Taking a picnic rug and sitting on the grass is what makes this place special. I did this as a teenager, while pregnant, and now with my kids. It’s how many Inner West families experience the ground. Please protect the hill and the informal, affordable way locals enjoy games.
I support the upgrade of player facilities, including NRL-compliant and female-friendly change rooms. These are important and overdue.
I do not support replacing the character of the ground with stadium seating throughout. Widespread stadium seating will change the feel of the oval and reduce the open, community-friendly spaces that make it unique. I also do not support prioritising hospitality and media facilities. These do not improve the experience for the Inner West community at the ground. They mainly benefit broadcast and corporate users. The project should prioritise everyday spectators, families, and local community use.
Please design the upgrade to:
- Keep and enhance the grass hill experience.
- Limit stadium seating to where it is genuinely needed.
- Prioritise community access, affordability, shade, toilets and family-friendly spaces.
- Deliver inclusive change rooms without losing the oval’s local character.

Thank you for considering community feedback.

Hi there I'm Stavros I would like to make a submission I want leichhardt oval to be more than a sporting venue I would like to see a lot of gigs there of all kinds genres especially rock and heavy metal it's important to upgrade leichhardt oval Have it for a generation to come thanks

Please see attached submission regarding the Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment

I object to part of the proposal, specifically the northern grandstand
Currently the oval has towering trees surrounding its northern and western perimeters. These are mature trees with 40-50 years growth. They provide shade over the external and internal areas, depending on the time of day--ie. movement of sun and different seasons. This then gives additional tree canopy to an otherwise barren area. It also provides habitat for various forms of wildlife. Currently there is some bench seating at the northern end of the field and these trees provide natural shade--again depending on time of day
The plans for refurbishment of Leichhardt Oval 1 include the construction of a 1500 tiered roofless seating stand at the northern end. The plans require the removal of 23 trees in total, 13 of which will be removed for this uncovered grandstand at the north goal end of the field. The arborist consultancy firm engaged by Inner West Council to undertake an assessment of these trees has noted that they are swamp oaks, Weeping Figs and Arcacias with projected life expectancy ranging from 15-40+ years. the majority fall into the latter category
I don't believe that it s necessary to have such a large structure at the north end location, as this is not a sought after viewing postion (as evidenced by the few rows of existing seating)
The majority of spectators currently occupy the western grandstand undercover seating, or the several rows deep plastic seating around the perimeter between the fence and the surrounding access pathway.
The majority of other spectators opt to view from the grassy Pearce Hill on he eastern side, as it far better to view matches across a field than from behind goals.
The northern grandstand should be modified in seating capacity to relect these conditions and by so doing the need for removal of these mature trees would not be necessary. By reducing the number of rows and thus not removing these trees which will consequently provide some shade over those seated there. Perhaps too, $$$ saved by less rows in height, a roof could be put over the grandstand thus making it more likely to be used on cold and wet winter days.
The arborist company states that"3 new trees " will be planted somewhere on site and "8 on adjacent land" . As callan Park is "adjacent" to the north then IWC cannot determine this will be undertaken. Not sure what land they are referring to then.
Even so, as the arborist states, it will take at least 10-15 years for any new trees to genuinely "replace" the current mature trees with an environmental negative impact, as per my initial comments above.
The northern grandstand must be removed from the plans or reduced significantly in size--seat 500-750--and hus the 13 trees retained. It's totally unnecessary to build this 1500 roofless grandstand and to remove these healthy mature trees in order to do so.

As a Foundation Member of Sydney FC who goes to every match and is very happy the women's team has found a local home stadium… I find it very disrespectful the overall visual design theme of the refurbishment only represents one of its tenants being the Wests Tigers, with the use of their orange & black colours on the seating, and their logo on wall decals . The pattern is great, but I believe out of respect for ALL of the long-term tenants and football codes, a more neutral colour palette should be applied to the stadium, speaking to the whole community not just part of it with the use of Wests Tigers' branding.

Attn: Department of Planning, Housing and InfrastructureRe: Submission of Objection – Leichhardt Oval Upgrade (SSD-85149458)

1. Grounds for Objection
Loss of Critical Habitat and Biodiversity Corridors As a local resident, I am deeply concerned by the proposed destruction of established nesting and foraging sites. These Hill’s Weeping Figs serve as vital "stepping stones" for native wildlife within our urban landscape. Specifically:

Grey-headed Flying-foxes: These trees provide a critical food source for this federally protected species during their migration and local foraging.

Possums and Native Birds: The hollows and dense canopy of these established trees are home to resident ringtail and brushtail possums, as well as native bird species like the Tawny Frogmouth and Rainbow Lorikeet. The removal of these trees doesn't just remove shade; it destroys a functioning ecosystem in the heart of Leichhardt that cannot be replaced by saplings.

Direct Impact on Local Amenity & Heat Mitigation The Inner West already suffers from one of the lowest canopy covers in Sydney. As someone who lives in this area, I experience the "Urban Heat Island" effect firsthand. During summer matches, the relief provided by these trees is the only factor making the northern end habitable for families and the elderly. Replacing 100-year-old figs with saplings represents a 40-year deficit in shade and liveability for our community.

Failure to Align with NSW Canopy & Sustainability Targets This proposal directly contradicts the NSW Government’s goal to increase Greater Sydney’s tree canopy to 40%. It also ignores the Leichhardt Master Plan's focus on sustainability. Removing trees with a "High Retention Value" and life expectancies of over 40 years for the sake of construction convenience is a significant policy failure.

2. Outcomes Requested
As a local stakeholder, I request the following conditions of consent:

Mandatory Redesign: A revision of the Northern Grandstand to incorporate the existing figs, preserving both the canopy for shade and the branches for wildlife habitat.

Ecological Impact Assessment: A detailed study on how the removal of these specific trees will impact the local population of Grey-headed Flying-foxes and other native fauna.

Microclimate Impact Assessment: Independent heat modelling to prove that the loss of canopy won't significantly raise ground temperatures for spectators and residents.

"No Net Loss" of Mature Canopy: A requirement that any unavoidable removal be offset by the planting of mature, advanced trees of the same species to maintain immediate habitat continuity.

3. Closing Statement
Leichhardt Oval is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" because of its unique suburban character and its integration with the natural environment. As a resident, I believe that stripping away these iconic trees to build a modern stand removes the very soul of the ground. We must find a way to upgrade our facilities without evicting our native wildlife or destroying the greenery that makes our neighborhood liveable.

the submission outlines key matters that would need to be addressed for me not to object to it

see attachment

"Funding is secured for a major $40 million upgrade to Sydney's Leichhardt Oval, boosted by the Matildas' success and increased women's sport, with the Federal ($20m), NSW ($10m), and Inner West Council ($10m) contributing to new stands, female-friendly change rooms, and improved facilities to make it a hub for elite women's sport, starting after the 2026 season."

Yet the sole focus of Leichhardt Oval's upgrade is to the advantage of NRL men's side Balman Tigers, and gratuitously you note the benefit to Balmain's women NRLW side. The biased and unappealing colour scheme of orange and black has complete disregard for all the other codes of your current Tenants and the very code ("soccer") that secured your funding. Sydney FC is a current tenant and has been for some time. The Matildas have played at this oval for decades. Yet you have ignored the very code that has secured your funding.

Get rid of the divisive colour code of orange and black. Make Leichhardt Oval a place the community can be proud of and feel included. Let EVERY code take advantage of this space. A neutral palette would make everyone of diverse sectors of the community feel welcome. As a local resident we are sick of the old boys club bias towards NRL. Please Respect us all. Get rid of the orange and black.