UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2026

One field underway. Now let’s finish Waterfront!

Community support for better sporting facilities at Callan Park is delivering results.

The all-weather field at Balmain Road has been approved and construction is underway. This is a major win for local players, families and sporting clubs after years of advocacy.

But the job is only half finished.

The proposed all-weather field at Waterfront Drive was refused by the Inner West Local Planning Panel in June 2026. The Panel raised two concerns: the potential release of synthetic material during an extreme flood event, and whether sufficient consideration had been given to alternative locations.

Inner West Council has now submitted a formal review application with revised plans and additional technical evidence addressing both concerns.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

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

The drainage design has also been strengthened. A deeper gravel drainage layer will store rainfall within the field, along with a multiple-barrier 200 microns filtration system.

Independent flood modelling concludes that:

• The all-weather field would not be inundated in any modelled flood event, including the Probable Maximum Flood
• Floodwater would not wash synthetic material from the field into Sydney Harbour
• The revised works would have negligible off-site flood impacts
• The field is designed to remain flood-free under the modelled 2100 climate-change scenario

The revised proposal remains substantially the same as the original. It upgrades the existing Field 2, with regrading of the adjoining natural-turf Field 1. It does not change the location, size, proposed surface material, parking or traffic arrangements.

The heritage assessment concludes that the 350mm level change would be barely perceptible, with negligible additional visual impact and no additional heritage impacts. The original proposal has already received approval from the NSW Heritage Council.

WHY WATERFRONT?

Waterfront Drive was not selected without considering other options.

Waterfront is one of the most heavily used community sporting grounds in the Inner West. Each weekend it supports over 1,000 junior and senior football players, rapidly growing participation by girls and women, schools and broader community use.

Despite extensive maintenance and previous drainage improvements, the existing grass surface cannot reliably accommodate this level of demand. Wet-weather closures lead to cancelled training and games, with junior matches generally never replayed.

The proposal would:

• Upgrade an existing sporting field, rather than create a new one
• Provide a consistent and reliable surface for players of all ages and abilities
• Retain public access outside scheduled sporting use
• Retain the existing trees, lighting and open views
• Reduce pressure on surrounding natural-turf fields
• Make better use of limited sporting space without expanding the footprint of active recreation in Callan Park

Balmain Road is now being delivered. Waterfront Drive remains unfinished.

By signing this petition, you are supporting approval of the revised Waterfront Drive proposal and completion of the original two-field commitment for Callan Park.

Add your voice and help finish the job!

Contacts:
Paul Avery (president@balmainfootball.com.au)
Matt Bowen (president@leichhardtsaints.com)