Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Gannon –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note that the City’s Open Space and Sporting Recreation Needs Study (2016):

(i)         identified that by 2021 an additional 14 fields would have been required to address current field supply issues (such as overuse) and to service the increasing resident and worker population;

(ii)        identified that by 2031 an additional 20 fields will be required to address current field supply issues (such as overuse) and to service the increasing resident and worker population;

(iii)       identified 91 outdoor, publicly accessible, full-sized sports courts located in the City of Sydney, 66 courts are marked for tennis, 26 courts marked for basketball, and 22 courts for netball, alongside 10 netball courts replaced by construction of a synthetic sporting field in Moore Park in 2016;

(iv)       identified that the current supply of outdoor sports courts in the City is insufficient for tennis, basketball and netball;

(v)        identified an additional 17 to 18 additional outdoor multi-use courts and four tennis complexes (four courts) are recommended to be provided by 2031; and

(vi)       identified making better use of underutilised resources such as sporting fields and spaces on school grounds was an avenue to continue to explore;

(B)       Council note:

(i)         the City’s successful shared use agreements with Newtown Public School, Alexandria Park Community School and Inner Sydney High School, which have delivered significant public benefit to City of Sydney school children and broader City communities;

(ii)        that additional fields at Moore Park, Crescent Lands (half-field), Gunyama Park in Green Square, and Perry Park in Alexandria have been or are in the process of being delivered, but this does not meet forecast demand identified by the City’s own study;

(iii)       that additional multipurpose courts at Perry Park have been or are in the process of being delivered, but this does not meet forecast demand identified by the City’s own study; and

(iv)       that the school leadership and P&C of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts have approached the City to seek support for a possible shared use agreement, covering their outdoor oval, basketball and other possible open space; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to explore possibilities for the City to enter into a shared use agreement with the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, and bring any recommended items for funding back to Council as part of the future budget processes.

Carried unanimously.

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