From the sun herald
Tigers close to collapse
Heath Gilmore | April 6, 2008
SPORTING legends are rallying to save Balmain Tigers Leagues Club from imminent collapse.
Dawn Fraser, Ben Elias and Paul Sironen want Leichhardt Council to end three years of delays and approve redevelopment plans that would rescue the club from financial oblivion.
The club has long-standing plans to build a premises with 140 residential apartments, 39 shops and a car park on its Victoria Road, Rozelle, site.
Ms Fraser said yesterday: "I was made a life member of the club this year, which I consider one of the greatest achievements in my life, not only for me but for my family. To think that Leichhardt Council's failure to make a decision on the development could lead to the end of the Tigers just appals me."
Balmain Tigers chairman David Trodden yesterday disclosed the full extent of the club's financial plight - interest payments of $200,000 a month and a 20 per cent drop-off in poker machine revenue.
Mr Trodden said the Tigers, now in their 100th anniversary year, would fail to see it out unless a decision on the redevelopment was made by the council this month.
The collapse of the leagues club would sever one of the last ties holding the independent and
financially strong Wests Tigers Football Club to its inner-west heartland,
renewing calls for the joint venture team to base itself at Campbelltown.
"The club needs a decision now if we are to survive," Mr Trodden said.
"We don't want any favours, just certainty that someone will take responsibility and make a decision to decide our redevelopment and save this famous sporting club.
"Our proposed redevelopment has been subjected to an unprecedented three years of community consultation and discussion. All the issues that could be assessed by council have been, three times over. Now is the time for action.
"Council promised a decision on our future in 2007. It's now 2008 and we still have no guarantee we will get a decision. Unless we get a decision in April, we cannot guarantee that we will continue supporting any level of football, including the 120 teams and 2800 kids who play in our competition. The club also provides vital local community services and employs over 100 staff."
Leichhardt Mayor Carolyn Allen said the council had to make a decision based on the planning requirements of the community, not the financial position of the club.
She said a revised plan for the site would go on public exhibition on Wednesday, with the council to make a decision in late May or early June.
"Tigers is a great club and I am a member. But there may be other reasons for their financial position," Cr Allen said.
"There have been major issues with traffic and overshadowing, with the club proposing something much larger than originally discussed with our planners.
"The Tigers wanted the Planning Minister [Frank Sartor] to call the project in last December. He thought we had been too slow but has been happy with our progress since then."
State MP for Balmain Verity Firth said: "Of course any development needs to be very carefully assessed and the community's views heard and considered. But three years is too long and has clearly led to great uncertainty for both the Tigers and the community."
hgilmore@fairfaxmedia.com.au
