Decision details

Moved by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Scott –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          in 2005, 20 to 25 per cent of children were overweight or obese and the figure is growing by 1 per cent per year;

(ii)         sports participation for children has fallen since the 1980s from 82.5 per cent to 60 to 64 per cent;

(iii)        the City of Sydney's Open Space, Sports and Recreation Needs Study 2016 found that the demand for sporting facilities often exceeds supply, which is underscored by a high population of young people and 74.5 per cent of residents living in high-density housing;

(iv)       there are, however, a number of under-utilised opportunities that do exist for grassroots organised sport - people just aren't aware of them (the latest figures from the City of Sydney Community Wellbeing Indictors 2019 show a decrease in perceived opportunity to participate in recreational activities); and

(v)         there are low-cost, high-impact ways to support these kinds of grassroots programs and thereby work towards more open space, with more equitable access. One such program is the Carnival of the Codes, which aims to expose children to new sports and increase uptake amongst new demographics e.g. women's AFL which has the fastest growing participation rates in Australian sport; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          investigate the listing of all sports clubs within the City of Sydney on the City's  website so that people looking to participate can easily connect with local groups and vice versa;

(ii)         investigate further work that connects grassroots sport programs with existing City spaces, to ensure that whilst we are looking to develop new areas, existing areas are fully optimised;

(iii)        investigate the availability of the Alan Davidson Oval at Sydney Park for the Carnival of the Codes - an inclusive event that allows children to trial and learn about various sporting codes; and

(iv)       as part of the ongoing Open Space, Sports and Recreation Needs Study, continue to work with local schools, grassroots sporting organisations and alliances, as well as other councils and the NSW Government, to further support participation in sports and increased health outcomes.

Carried unanimously.

S129262