One field underway. Now let’s finish Waterfront.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign for two all-weather sporting fields at Callan Park.

We have achieved an important milestone: the Balmain Road all-weather field has been approved and construction is underway. That is a major win for local players, families and clubs after years of advocacy.

But the job is only half finished.

Inner West Council has now lodged a formal review application for the proposed all-weather field at Waterfront Drive. The revised plans directly address the two concerns raised when the original application was refused in June: the potential release of synthetic material during an extreme flood event, and whether sufficient consideration had been given to alternative locations.

The revised design raises the lowest edge of the proposed field by 350mm, placing the entire playing surface above the modelled Probable Maximum Flood level.

It also provides a deeper gravel drainage layer to temporarily store rainfall within the field, together with multiple treatment barriers, including water filtration to 200 microns.

Independent flood modelling concludes that:

• The field would not be inundated in any modelled flood event, including a Probable Maximum Flood
• Floodwater would not wash synthetic material from the field into Sydney Harbour
• The field would remain flood-free under the modelled 2100 climate-change scenario

The DA revision still upgrades the existing Waterfront Field 2 to an all-weather surface, with the added benefit of the adjoining natural-turf Field 1 being regraded and returfed to accommodate the change in levels. There is no change to the location, field size, proposed surface material, parking or traffic arrangements.

Waterfront was selected following five years of investigation in which Council considered ten potential locations and shortlisted four suitable sites. It was the community’s preferred location, and the NSW Government’s Draft Callan Park Foreshore Master Plan specifically identifies Waterfront Drive for an all-weather field.

Please make a submission in support by 6 October 2026

Even if you made a submission supporting the original DA, please lodge a fresh submission supporting the revised proposal.

A short, personal submission is valuable and should take only a few minutes.

To make a submission:

1. Visit the Inner West Council online submissions portal
2. Search for application REV/2026/0005
3. Select “Lodge a submission”
4. Explain briefly, in your own words, why you support the proposal
5. Select “Support” in the Sentiment Metric
6. You can also attach a document or longer submission if you wish

You may wish to mention:

• The need for a reliable sporting surface for junior and senior players, including rapidly growing participation by girls and women
• The importance of year-round access to an all-weather field at Waterfront for BDFC, schools and the wider community
• The loss of training sessions and matches when the existing grass fields are closed after rain
• The strengthened flood protection and water-filtration measures
• The extensive investigation of alternative locations
• When the Local Planning Panel evaluated the original proposal, it did not raise any objections on heritage, landscape, traffic, sporting or other environmental impacts
• The importance of completing the original commitment to two all-weather fields at Callan Park

Personal submissions matter. Please describe how unreliable grounds affect you, your family, your team or your school.

After making your submission, please share this petition with teammates, local families and other community members.

Balmain Road is being delivered. With your help, we can finish the job at Waterfront.

Thank you for standing with us.

Paul Avery
President, Balmain & District Football Club

Matt Bowen
President, Leichhardt Saints Football Club