Feud over BDFC’s lack of locals

A war of words has erupted between the Balmain District Football Club (BDFC) and Friends of Callan Park (FOCP) over claims a large percentage of registered BDFC players reside from areas outside the Leichhardt municipality.

Park availability has been a ongoing issue with  Leichhardt the fourth-lowest open space area out of the state’s 152 local councils and recording the highest baby boom population in NSW, according to FOCP.

Acting president of FOCP and former Independent Leichhardt Councillor, John Stamolis slammed the BDFC.

“They (BDFC) are constantly telling Council that ‘local kids are missing out’ so that they can get priority treatment … yet their numbers show them having hundreds of members from other areas. That must surely mean they are one of the biggest contributors to the problem,” he said.

However, BDFC representatives hit back strongly against these claims and roundly condemned Mr Stamolis’ involvement with the FOCP.

“Stamolis is a disgrace for yet another attack on the efforts of BDFC and indeed all other local sporting clubs to secure new sporting fields to meet the boom in children seeking sporting facilities,” BDFC Secretary Glenn Burge said.

Local BDFC volunteer and parent David Birds said too much was read into residence.

“People may move around a little bit but there are still the local connections even if they don’t live in the heart of Balmain. The club just wants to be able to accommodate its long-standing members from around the area … and so we as parents don’t have to drive to fields long, long away,” he said.

But in a statement, the FOCP said the BDFC “is building a broader-based football competition using the very limited resources available in our municipality and at a significant expense to ratepayers”.

“The mayor and the BDFC constantly tell us that many local kids are missing out on sporting opportunities. Yet, the BDFC continue to register hundreds of players from other areas,” the statement said.

The FOCP allege 36 per cent of all registered members – approximately 700 players – reside from outside the Leichhardt municipality. The group said the trend “puts pressure on our limited resources, reduces availability for other sporting codes and causes local children to miss out”.

Former President of BDFC Brian Frankham – who ran on the Labor ticket for the last Council election – questioned the motivation of Mr Stamolis and praised both the “Labor Party and the majority of Liberal councillors for consistently supporting the needs of the community-based sporting clubs since the election”.

Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne, well-known for his staunch stance on delivering more sporting fields, insisted “the figures have no basis”.

“It is unfair they are attacking local parents and clubs who do a fantastic job for kids,” he said.

On Mr Stamolis’ claims, Mr Byrne said it was an “unfair attack”.

“[This] demonstrates why he wasn’t re-elected. There are literally hundreds of parents who would have given him their support at some point in the past who are going to be questioning his claims that the club is fraudulent,” he said.

“With the biggest baby boom in Australia happening right here in our backyard, delivering more sporting fields has been our highest priority.”

The furore comes shortly after Council announced the approval of the development application for the renovation of Lambert Park, the home of APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club.

However, the FOCP still remains concerned over BDFC’s influence and relationship with Council. Mr Stamolis said “the club may [soon] consume the Veterans Oval, which will contravene the Master Plan and disregard the heritage of the area”.

“This new Council has added nothing new and the mayor is capitalising on what we did on the past Council in providing sporting outcomes. But as long as the fields are delivered I will be happy,” he said.

The FOCP will be hosting a rally on Saturday March 2 at 11am in the ambulance car park at Callan Park to help push Planning Minister Brad Hazzard to approve the Callan Park Master Plan.