Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, says a large fire at the abandoned Balmain Leagues Club on Saturday came as “no surprise” following Council calls to demolish the building.
The fire that tore through the site on Saturday afternoon is being treated as suspicious after police say two teenage boys were seen running from the area at the time of the blaze.
“The large fire at Balmain Leagues Club yesterday was no surprise. We have repeatedly and publicly called on the NSW Government to allow this building to be demolished because of the fire and safety threat there,” says Mayor Byrne. “They must finally do so now.”
He said that since September 2020, the owners of the site have been unable to proceed with their development, which was approved by a State Government appointed panel, and includes a new Wests Tigers Leagues Club.
“The NSW Government says that they are, instead, going to compulsorily acquire the property to use it as a massive tunnelling site for their Western Harbour Tunnel,” the Mayor said.
“But for two years they have not acted while refusing to allow the owner to demolish the building.
“The Transport Minister and the Premier must now stop the delays and immediately allow this hazardous eyesore to be demolished and the site made safe.”