After more than five years of work, it’s official. The all-weather field at Balmain Road Sporting Ground has been approved by the Local Planning Panel.
This is your win. Hundreds of Saints families lodged submissions, turned up to meetings, spoke at the lectern, signed petitions and refused to let this go. Thank you. For years our players have trained and played on bare, patchy grass and lost countless games to washouts. They are about to get a surface they can use in any weather, all season long.
An artist’s impression of the Balmain Road Sporting Ground upgrade, featuring organic infill and maintained open community access
What happens now
Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2026, and the field will be ready for the start of the 2027 winter season.
What that means for our community:
- An all-weather surface that holds up through the wettest winters, so far fewer cancelled games and lost training nights.
- More hours of football on the same ground, which lets us take more players off the waitlist and run more teams.
- A safer surface for everyone, after years of injuries on uneven, deteriorating grass.
Myth vs. Fact: Setting the Record Straight
There is significant misinformation online regarding this project. We encourage all members and residents to review the actual facts of the project.
| The Myth | The Fact |
| “The field will be fenced off.” | False. The DA includes no fencing. Community access is maintained 24/7 outside of scheduled club bookings. It’s important to note that football is the only organised sport played on Balmain Road Sporting Ground. |
| “It uses toxic rubber crumb.” | False. The proposal specifies organic infill (engineered wood, cork or coconut fibre). These are natural, biodegradable materials exempt from EU microplastic bans. |
| “It will be too hot to use.” | Misleading. Organic infill is 30% cooler than rubber systems. Air temperature at standing height differs by only 0.5 to 1.2°C compared to grass. |
| “Grass is better for the environment.” | False. Natural grass at this intensity requires 4 million litres of water, regular line marking, fertilisers, and pesticides. This upgrade requires none of those. |
| “Microplastics will wash into the harbour.” | False. The DA features a closed-loop drainage system with subsoil filters and a cartridge treatment plant designed specifically to trap broken fibres and sediments, even removing existing pollutants that currently flow into the park untreated. |
| “Better maintenance is the answer.” | Impossible. Grass has a best practice biological limit of ~20 hours of use per week. Our community requires 60+ hours. You cannot “maintain” a plant to stay alive under that volume. |
Why This Matters to Leichhardt Saints
Leichhardt Saints FC serves over 1,200 players across 80+ teams. We have reached absolute capacity and can no longer accommodate the demand for football in our community.
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Safety First: We have lost players to serious injuries caused by muddy, uneven, and deteriorating grass surfaces.
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End the Washouts: Every season, games and training are cancelled and Junior games are lost when fields become waterlogged. Under 6 to Under 12 washouts are never rescheduled, meaning young players lose development opportunities they can never recover.
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Local Equity: Families in other Council areas already benefit from all-weather fields. Our players in Leichhardt and surrounds deserve the same quality of infrastructure.
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Five+ Years of Advocacy: This project is the result of years of work, since Committee members first spoke at a Council meeting in May 2019.
The Expert Evidence
The DA was assessed against a suite of independent technical reports that confirm the project is appropriate and sustainable:
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Water Quality: The design includes a “Closed Loop” drainage system. All runoff is captured and treated via a proprietary cartridge filtration system – removing 90% of gross pollutants and 85% of fine sediments.
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Biological Limits: Independent specialists conclude the existing grass field cannot sustainably support current use. Even with the $2 million drainage upgrade that occurred at Waterfront Drive in 2019, grass fields in the Inner West continue to fail under high intensity.
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Heritage & Landscape: Specialist arborists and heritage consultants confirm that no trees will be removed and existing open views across Callan Park are maintained.
Protecting Callan Park
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Small Footprint: The field represents less than 1% of Callan Park (0.6 hectares in a 61-hectare park).
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The Village Green: The 8,400 square metre off-leash dog area directly behind the field remains fully accessible 24/7.
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Modern Lighting: New fixtures will reduce light spill compared to the current outdated lights, benefiting both residents and local wildlife.
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A “Closed Loop” Environmental Design: The DA includes a high-tech stormwater strategy that actually improves local water quality. All runoff is captured and treated via a proprietary cartridge filtration system – removing 90% of gross pollutants and 85% of fine sediments before they leave the site. This “closed system” uses concrete hobs (edges) and specialised brush mats to ensure all organic infill and fibres stay on the field and out of our waterways.
Aerial photograph from 1943 of the soccer ground and tennis courts
How You Can Help – Sign the Petition
The petition covers two fields. Balmain Road is approved. Waterfront Drive (DA/2025/1053) was refused on flood grounds and Council is pursuing a review, so the petition remains open for that site. Link to Petition: Support All-Weather Playing Fields at Callan Park
Questions?
If you have questions about the project or what comes next, get in touch:
Matthew Bowen,
President
Leichhardt Saints FC
Additional Resources:
Media Release – 180724
Lincoln Charles Council Speech – 130824
Ruby Bruce Council Speech – 130824
Notice of Determination – DA/2025/1052