This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
AFTER 10 years of sitting derelict – and being set on fire earlier this month – the Balmain Leagues Club site is now ready for redevelopment after the NSW government abandoned plans to use the site for dirt dumping for the Western Harbour Tunnel project.
Chinese developer Heworth Holdings had been planning a $400 million rebuild of the Rozelle site that received approval in 2020 which would include a new Balmain Leagues Club on the lower levels of the 28,000 sqm complex as well as 167 apartments, commercial space, supermarket, retail, a public town square, community arts, car parking, and open spaces.
There is still the potential for NRL club Wests Tigers to return to the site when the development is concluded, Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne told 2GB yesterday.
Transport NSW filed an acquisition notice for the site last October ahead of construction on the tunnel beginning this year for an opening in 2027. It announced this week it would not be requiring the site, less than two weeks after a tore through the site, which is being treated by police as suspicious.
Christopher Walsh, head of property at Heworth, said the company was relieved “this four-year debacle now looks to be over, notwithstanding the unresolved matter of compensation”.
“Our development is DA-approved and has been shovel-ready, but we’ve been forced to put a hold on our critical development activities since early 2020, including design development works, contractor procurement, and sales and marketing, at a time when we were ready to commence off-the-plan sales.
“As a result of the indecision over the use of the site, we’ve suffered enormous financial losses and our plans to deliver a new club for the Balmain Tigers and their members have been delayed.”
“Heworth intends progressing with the development once the site is handed back and we look forward to meeting with the Wests Tigers Club and our other key stakeholders so we can deliver this landmark project for the inner-west Community,” Walsh said.
Transport for NSW has been leasing the site back from Heworth since the notice was filed, and Heworth has been awaiting a determination of compensation by the NSW Valuer General after the site was acquired. An outcome is expected in the coming weeks.
Heworth had commenced preliminary works development, which fronts Victoria Road, Darling Street, and Waterloo Street.
