Decision details

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Vithoulkas -

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         Glebe Hockey Club has been in contact with Council since 2017 in an attempt to get a multi-purpose synthetic playing field in the local government area:

(a)       in 2019, Council officers advised Glebe Hockey Club that a location near the new skate park being constructed on the Crescent, Annandale, meets all Council guidelines to support a 50 metre by 30 metre synthetic surface. They advised it will take 24 months to be completed;

(b)       at the above dimensions the pitch will have an area just over a quarter of a full-sized hockey field, but will create a place where Glebe juniors are able to train, and where others can develop their skills;

(c)       if Council increases the field width to 31.70 metres (an increase of 1.7 metres from the original allocation) it would comply with the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) size requirements for an internationally compliant Hockey5s field;

(d)       side and back boards are an integral part of the game, and would be required for the field. Glebe Hockey Club is willing to create some innovative engineering designs to include rebound boards into the fencing structure necessary for a Hockey5s field;

(e)       a suitable synthetic hockey pitch surface can be used for multiple sports without compromising hockey, and regular-sized removable goals can be used to maintain pitch versatility; and

(f)        this modification and size increase would not preclude other sports from using the field, and would keep the pitch as a local multi-purpose sporting facility;

(ii)        Hockey5s is a new game format that is gaining traction worldwide and is starting to be played at an international level. It is the format played for the Youth Olympics and Oceania Continental 5s tournaments;

(iii)      Hockey5s is an official short-form version of hockey. It is played by five players per side rather than 11 players and is designed as a complementary format of the game. Hockey5s condenses the best of hockey into an action-packed, skilful and fun game;

(iv)      Hockey5s widens hockey’s reach by reducing the costs of facilities and matches sports trends towards smaller teams and more urbanised experiences; and

(v)       if this field is built to the international size it will be the first purpose built 5s field in Australia. This would allow a local Sydney club (Glebe Hockey Club) to host Youth Olympics and Oceania Continental 5s tournaments, as well as Hockey5s Carnivals, junior and some senior training, run regular Hookin2Hockey programs for Under 7s and Under 9s with a competition element, and create a space where kids can have a hit, while safely promoting active play and lifestyle; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         investigate the feasibility of modifying the proposed multi-purpose pitch in Annandale so that it meets the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) requirements of a Hockey5s pitch, which includes:

(a)       amending the size of the pitch to comply with FIH standards for Hockey5s;

(b)       full-sized removable hockey goals;

(c)       the correct type of synthetic pitch; and

(d)       side and back boards integrated into the fencing;

(ii)        consult with Glebe Hockey Club as part of the investigation, to ensure plans for a Hockey5s pitch is internationally compliant; and

(iii)      report back to Council with a project feasibility and cost breakdown including all necessary features described above.

Carried unanimously.

S129263