Sportsground Network
CITY OF PARRAMATTA Sportsground Network
Sportsgrounds provide wide ranging health, economic, environmental and civic benefits for our community
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Sportsgrounds enable formal through participating in sports sustainability and resilience of and informal sport and outdoor and engaging with their various our community. Sportsgrounds recreation opportunities which sports clubs and organisations. are also a vital business and support our community to lead Sportsgrounds also play a marketing tool to attract healthy and active lifestyles. role in protecting the natural economic investment to an area Many community members environment by reducing human and for increasing local ‘footfall’. experience a strong sense impact which contributes of enjoyment and belonging to improving the overall
Defining our This Strategy makes reference sportsground network: to sport-specific terminology Sportsgrounds are defined as outdoor green • NSO – National Sporting Organisations open space that can support sporting activities. • SSO - State Sport Organisations These sporting activities include: • Association – An umbrella organisation • Formal sporting activities which consist of bringing together the affiliated sports clubs organised sport, training, and competition based and licenced players, with the aim of organising activities by sporting clubs, schools and others the sport, primarily through competition-based participation • Sports Club – A registered organisation that exists to promote and develop participation in a particular sport or physical activity.
There may be one or more playing fields situated at each sportsground.
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City of Parramatta categorises sportsgrounds according to a hierarchy:
This Strategy focuses on actions that Council will take, with others, to strengthen its network of local and district sportsgrounds
Local District Regional
Refers to sportsgrounds with a Refers to sportsgrounds with a Refers to sportsgrounds with a primary catchment area of a primary catchment of a large primary catchment of multiple single local government area local government area, often local government areas. or multiple suburbs. These sites catering for various Councils due These sites also service a local focus on club competition and to the nature of the competition catchment and are able to provide a mix of recreational, or sport. District facilities cater support high level training and competitive and programmed for Association competition as competition and are designed formats for participants. Local well as service a local catchment and maintained to a higher facilities generally service the to provide a mix of recreational, standard. Regional facilities needs of sports clubs for home competitive and programmed provide a broad range of sport and away fixtures, including formats for participants. These and recreation activities and finals, training activities and sites serve as a local sporting events, often hosting regional participation programs. finals venue or as a central venue tournaments and carnivals with facilitating regular competition large numbers of teams across for multiple clubs and/or teams. multiple days. Regional facilities can also be a significant single sport facility of a high quality, catering for high levels of competition.
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National/State
Refers to sportsground and * City of Parramatta has three National/State facility sites with the primary facilities that are currently built or under construction within our LGA. These include: catchment being state level. Sydney Olympic Park owned by Sydney They attract users and visitors Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), Old Saleyards from interstate and overseas. Reserve leased by the Parramatta Eels and They provide for the highest level owned by Council, and the Western Sydney Stadium owned by Venues NSW, (under of sporting competition which construction). Old Kings Oval located within may include international events Parramatta Park is a regional sports facility and competitions, national managed by Parramatta Park Trust. City of league(s) and associated state Parramatta Council is committed to working in collaboration with these organisations and national team and squad to plan for and manage these facilities as training centre(s). These facilities we acknowledge that they are a significant also assist to promote sports resource for our community, with access to both and provide community access regional and national facilities. These facilities are considered out of scope for the Community and pathway opportunities for Infrastructure Strategy. participants. As these facilities provide for the highest level of competition, they also have a high entertainment value and attract large numbers of spectators.
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SPORTSGROUND NETWORK
Current What is provided Situation now?
63 Playing Fields
KEY: Council owned
City of Parramatta Council Council has 33 sportsgrounds Most schools, some universities, (Council) plays a significant and a total of 63 individual and some other government role in the provision of playing fields that together agencies in City of Parramatta sportsgrounds throughout our form a network of 147 hectares have sportsgrounds of varied Local Government Area (LGA). and cater for: sizes, however, access for the general public is limited. • Informal sporting and recreation opportunities • Formal sporting opportunities including local sporting club training and competition
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2019 City of Parramatta Sportsground Network
10 Sportsgrounds 4 Sportsgrounds • 10 local • 3 local • 0 district • 1 district • 1 regional • 0 regional
Catchment 3 Catchment 2
Catchment 1
4 Sportsgrounds • 3 local
Catchment Catchment • 0 district 6 Sportsgrounds 4 5 • 1 regional • 6 local • 0 district • 0 regional
Catchment 6 8 Sportsgrounds • 4 local • 3 district • 1 regional
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Council’s Sportsground Network
CATCHMENT 1 Suburbs – Winston Hills, Toongabbie, Westmead, Northmead, Old Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville & Constitution Hill
Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 6 (6 local/0 district/0 regional)
Total Number of Playing Fields = 13
Total Size (HA) = 12.23 (20% of network)
Number of Playing Total Usage – Suburb Sportsground Category Fields Size (HA) Formal hire in winter
Northmead Arthur Phillip Park Local 2 1.89 26.25 hours per wk
Northmead Northmead Reserve Local 2 2.08 21.25 hours per wk
Old Toongabbie Binalong Park Local 4 3.25 35.2 hours per wk
Toongabbie McCoy Park Local 2 1.84 27 hours per wk
Winston Hills John Curtin Reserve Local 1 1.03 20 hours per wk
Winston Hills Max Ruddock Reserve Local 2 2.14 40.5 hours per wk
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CATCHMENT 2 Suburbs – Carlingford, North Rocks, Dundas, Dundas Valley & Telopea
Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 10 (10 local/0 district/0 regional)
Total Number of Playing Fields = 16
Total Size (HA) = 12.98 (22% of network)
Number of Playing Total Usage – Suburb Sportsground Category Fields Size (HA) Formal hire in winter
Dundas Valley Dundas Park Local 3 2.24 21.17 hours per wk
North Rocks Murray Farm Reserve Local 1 0.97 11 hours per wk
Carlingford North Rocks Park Local 2 1.31 48.25 hours per wk
Local *Council Carlingford Carlingford High School managed, 3 2.21 55.5 hours per wk Department of Education land
Carlingford Cox Park Local 2 1.47 25 hours per wk
Carlingford Harold West Reserve Local 1 0.93 43.5 hours per wk
Carlingford Homelands Reserve Local 1 0.83 34 hours per wk Peggy Womersley Carlingford Local 1 0.95 37 hours per wk Reserve Sir Thomas Mitchell Dundas Valley Local 1 0.92 26 hours per wk Reserve North Rocks Speers Road Reserve Local 1 1.15 32.5 hours per wk
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CATCHMENT 3 Suburbs – Epping, Beecroft and Eastwood
Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 4 (3 local/1 district/0 regional)
Total Number of Playing Fields = 6
Total Size (HA) = 2.82 (5% of network)
Number of Playing Total Usage – Suburb Sportsground Category Fields Size (HA) Formal hire in winter
District Epping West Epping Park Synthetic 2 0.97 38.5 hours per wk Fields
Beecroft Roselea Park Local 1 0.66 52.25 hours per wk
Eastwood Somerville Park Local 2 1.39 42.5 hours per wk
Epping Boronia Park Local 1 0.77 33.5 hours per wk
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CATCHMENT 4 Suburbs – Parramatta, Granville, Camellia, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Harris Park, Mays Hill, Rosehill and Clyde Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 8 (4 local/3 district/1 regional)
Total Number of Playing Fields = 17
Total Size (HA) = 20.38 (34% of network)
Number of Playing Total Usage – Suburb Sportsground Category Fields Size (HA) Formal hire in winter
Granville FS Garside Regional 1 0.94 43 hours per wk
Parramatta Jones Park District 3 3.30 31.58 hours per wk
North Barton Park District 2 2.65 9 hours per wk Parramatta North Doyle Ground District 4 5.49 20.38 hours per wk Parramatta North Belmore Park Local 2 1.79 4 hours per wk Parramatta North Dan Mahoney Reserve Local 1 2.00 3 hours per wk Parramatta
Parramatta Ollie Webb Reserve Local 2 2.52 32.75 hours per wk
Parramatta Robin Thomas Reserve Local 2 1.67 32.75 hours per wk
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CATCHMENT 5 Suburbs – Melrose Park, Rydalmere and Ermington
Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 4 (3 local/0 district/1 regional)
Total Number of Playing Fields = 11
Total Size (HA) = 10.34 (17% of network)
Number of Playing Total Usage – Suburb Sportsground Category Fields Size (HA) Formal hire in winter
Rydalmere Rydalmere Park Regional 3 2.55 47.83 hours per wk
George Kendall Ermington Local 5 4.99 17.65 hours per wk Riverside Park
Rydalmere Eric Primrose Reserve Local 2 1.51 24 hours per wk
Rydalmere Upjohn Park Local 1 1.27 8.75 hours per wk
CATCHMENT 6 Suburbs – Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Lidcombe/Carter Street, Silverwater and Newington
Overall number of Sportsgrounds = 0
Total number of Playing Fields = 0
Total Size (HA) = 0
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Rates of Provision
City of Parramatta: 2016 sporting open space provision (HA) against benchmark* City of Parramatta’s current provision of sportsgrounds available to the general public is 235 severely lacking. (+85)
A people per hectares approach to benchmarking suggests that 150 there is currently 0.62ha/1,000 people of sportsgrounds, a gap of 0.38ha when compared to the ideal provision of 1ha/1,000 Actual 2016 m2 Ideal provision based on people. This benchmark indicates benchmark for 2016 population ideal provision of 235 hectares to (Ha per 1,000 people) support the current population. KEY: Council owned 2016 population benchmark A percentage of land approach *Benchmark based on average LGA standard of 7 metropolitan Councils 2017 to benchmarking would indicate that 1.76% of land area (based An analysis of walkable Catchment One: Northmead and Westmead on LGA total of 8,375ha) is catchments (250m, 300m Catchment Two: Carlingford and North currently used for formal sport. and 400m) from residences Rocks This means there is a gap of to useable Council owned Catchment Three: Epping 4.24% of land area or 356ha of recreation and sporting open Catchment Four: Rosehill sporting open space to reach space, shows gaps for our Catchment Five: Melrose Park the ideal 6% sportsground communities in the following Catchment Six: Silverwater, Sydney benchmark. areas: Olympic Park and Wentworth Point
Sportsground Benchmarks
There are various provision • 6% is sportsground • 1ha/1,000 people for parks standards that can be employed • 5% is informal and passive • 1ha/1,000 people for when determining future recreation sportsgrounds community needs and potential • 4% is natural area • 1ha/1,000 people or more for gaps related to sportsgrounds. natural areas and other open AND spaces For the purposes of this Strategy, two benchmark approaches are 2. Rate of hectares per 1,000 For more information on the considered: people with 3ha/1,000 application of benchmarks and people being used as the their strengths, weaknesses and 1. A percentage of land benchmark based on industry considerations, refer to the ‘Table approach where 15% of the approaches. This includes: of Benchmarks’ pp. 58-59. land area is for open space, of which:
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Current Usage
Council's sportsgrounds are used formally and informally, and differently in winter compared to summer. Understanding the impact of these factors informs the way we manage our sportsground network.
Formal and Informal Seasonal use City of Parramatta: Sports Use Formal sports use is currently 2017 Formal Year round, sportsgrounds cater broken up into two distinct for a wide range of sporting seasons (summer and winter). Sportsground activities, including club training Council’s sportsgrounds Bookings by Season and competition, school based accommodate different sporting sport and general community use. uses depending on the season. For example, many of Council’s This use can be formal, sportsgrounds cater for football 987 for example through club in the winter season and cricket hrs per wk competition, or informal, for in the summer season. example, when local residents use Council playing fields to kick Different sporting uses cause around a ball after school or varying levels of wear and 645 work. Formal sports use requires tear, which impacts on field hrs per wk a booking to be made through maintenance and management. Council’s booking system. This For example, winter season sports means that we have a good have a much higher impact on understanding of the level of playing surfaces because they formal sportsground use across are high-intensity and likely to our network. However, the level distribute wear and tear across of informal sportsground use is the entire playing surface. more difficult to determine as this does not require a booking, occurs on an as-needs basis and Summer Winter is often spontaneous. 2017 2017
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City of Parramatta: 2017 Formal Bookings of Council Sportsgrounds
18.5%
Sportsground bookings
81.5%
KEY: School use Other use
Formal bookings made by sports This increased demand impacts Council’s sportsground network clubs and businesses represent sportsground maintenance as receives higher formal use in 81.5% of all sportsground well as the overall availability of the winter season. Council’s bookings. Sports clubs across the the fields for general community sportsground typically receive LGA continue to increase their use. School group bookings over half of their usage during membership base. comprise 18.5% of booked usage weekdays. of Council’s playing fields.
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Current Carrying Capacity of Sportsgrounds
Carrying Capacity City of Parramatta 2017 The carrying capacity of a natural grass sportsground is the maximum level of usage that the site can sustain, without resulting in a major decline in the turf and 15% surface condition that results in the site becoming ‘unfit for use’. % Studies show that playing field 9 usage of more than 20 hours Sportsground per week will contribute to a deterioration of playing surfaces. Capacity We also know that some sports uses will cause more wear and tear than others. Playing fields 76% are living assets that require time to recover from the wear and tear that sports uses create. This ‘buffer’ period allows for appropriate turf maintenance, KEY: Operating below or far below capacity renewal and management of Operating at capacity the field. Operating above or far above capacity Given current condition and maintenance regimes, Council An analysis of the current • 26 (76%) sites are operating has identified the ideal capacity formal sports usage patterns above or far above ideal of its natural grass playing fields of Council’s sportsground sites capacity shows of the 33 sites: as 16 – 20 hours per week of use. • 5 (15%) sites are operating • 3 (9%) sites are operating at below or far below ideal capacity where usage of the capacity site can be sustained without a major decline in playing surface
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The use of our sportsgrounds varies throughout the LGA. This means that sportsgrounds in particular catchments are under significantly more pressure and operating above or far above their capacity compared to other catchments.
No. of council sportsground sites Capacity Level Hours per week of use with usage within these hours
Operating far above capacity 26+ 20
Operating above capacity 21 – 25 6
Operating at capacity 16 – 20 3
Operating below capacity 11 – 15 1
Operating far below capacity 10 or less 4
City of Parramatta by Catchment: 2017 carrying capacity of sportsgrounds based on formal bookings use
17% 9%
ONE TWO THREE
83% 91% 100%
% 33% 50
FOUR FIVE
67% 50%
KEY: Operating below or far below capacity Operating at capacity Operating above or far above capacity
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How well positioned is our current Sportsground Network?
The strengths of our Despite some strengths, sportsground network include: our sportsground network • We have sportsgrounds throughout our has weaknesses: catchments except in catchment 6. • Close to 80% of Council owned sportsgrounds • Our sportsground network can are operating at or above capacity. accommodate a variety of sports and uses. • Use and wear and tear is not spread evenly across • Many sportsgrounds are co-located with sportsgrounds in our LGA and this means there are other recreation uses (e.g. playspaces, some fields that operate above capacity and others fitness equipment, walking and cycling that operate below capacity. pathways.) • Overall, there is not an equitable distribution of • Some of our sportsgrounds have recently district and local sportsgrounds or enough to meet been upgraded. community need. • There are a number of local level • Only some sportsgrounds are flexible in design to sportsgrounds that, if embellished, have the accommodate multiple and changing uses. capability to be district level facilities and • There are a number of sportsgrounds without support a broader range of uses. appropriate supporting infrastructure (such as floodlighting, cricket pitches and amenities blocks), reducing the overall functionality of these sites. • Some of our sportsgrounds are in poor condition. • Sportsground surfaces and associated maintenance costs are growing as a result of increasing impacts of weather conditions (including, extreme heat and flooding). • Some schools are heavily reliant on using Council’s sportsgrounds for their sporting activities due to reduced availability of facilities within school grounds and growing student numbers. • There is a current lack of sportsground provision in suburbs that are projected to have high population growth into the future (e.g. Epping , Wentworth Point and Granville) • There are no sportsgrounds in catchment 6.
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Facts at a Glance
In City of Parramatta in 2018, we have
63 2 5 Council Synthetic Sportsgrounds playing fields playing fields without floodlights
4 13 15hrs District Different sports played Current average weekly sportsgrounds formally across our carrying capacity of sportsgrounds our sportsgrounds
18,000 44 47 Sportsground School bookings Local sporting clubs bookings for sportsgrounds and associations using per year each week our sportsgrounds
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George Kendall CASE Riverside Park STUDY City of Parramatta
George Kendall Riverside Park The adopted masterplan • Installation of energy efficient is located at 38 Spofforth Street reorganises the site to provide lighting to cater for additional within the suburb of Ermington, a greater number and size of fields. which has a population of sporting fields, increasing the • Installation of stormwater approximately 11,430 people. capacity of the site. infrastructure with full irrigation Ermington is located within The masterplan includes: to the sporting fields. close proximity to areas that • Centralisation and are expected to experience • Expanding the number of fields embellishment of current significant population growth in and associated supporting buildings to create a the future, including Melrose Park, infrastructure to increase multipurpose hub. Rydalmere, Camellia, Rosehill and formal sports use (from 2 Sydney Olympic Park. football fields to 6 full size • Reconstruction of sports turf to football fields, 2 full size cricket improve quality and quantity. We know that this growth will grounds and reconfigured impact the immediate area, • Increased links into and around baseball fields). placing greater demand on site to key public infrastructure the sportsground. By 2036 an • Expanding and upgrading such as cycle and shared estimated 13,974 additional outdoor recreation facilities at pathways and to the broader people (49,609 in total) are the site, including an off-leash recreation network of City forecast to live in the catchment dog area and informal open of Parramatta and the local surrounding this site. space. residential community.
Council’s adopted masterplan • Relocation and embellishment for George Kendall Riverside of playspaces to better connect Park strives to achieve a unique with other park facilities and and valued riverside park that allow for more usage. optimises the potential of its distinctive setting, as well as satisfying a wide variety of social and recreational opportunities.
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Emerging Trends
City of Parramatta continues to undergo transformational change. The associated growth and development is leading to an increasingly urbanised environment that will have a significant impact on the future of our sportsground network.
Council considers the Physical activity and obesity. Sportsgrounds as a network. following trends as We know that our communities’ In order to serve the growing critical to the future of our health behaviours and health and diverse needs of our sportsground network: outcomes are worse than for community, sportsgrounds must Growing demand and people living in Greater Western be managed and planned for diverse interests. Sydney. Increasing obesity rates as a network. Local, district and are evident within Australia due regional sportsgrounds must The way people use to poor diet and lack of exercise. work together to deliver a range sportsgrounds across the LGA There is a need to ensure that of opportunities for activity and is changing. Sportsgrounds need open space can support and recreation throughout the LGA to accommodate an increasingly encourage physical activity for all that cater for varied skill levels diverse range of activities to ages, abilities, genders, cultural and needs. There is an increasing meet a variety of needs, for and socio-economic groups. need to provide a range of both informal and formal quality local spaces as well as sporting opportunities and for Housing density. regional and district open spaces our culturally diverse community. Increasing density, smaller and facilities. Sportsgrounds Open space must also employ backyards and higher density must be located on land suitable universal design principles and development around transport for the intended use and be accessible to all members of nodes means that there will be must incorporate appropriate the community. an increased need for public amenities and supporting spaces close to where people live. infrastructure. These public spaces will need to support passive recreation as well as provide facilities and events for organised sport and activity.
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What does future best practice look like?
Adaptable multi-use Increased maintenance Organisation of formal sport. sportsgrounds. impacts. Given the increasing pressure To meet increasing expectations Playing surfaces are experiencing on our sportsgrounds, which for our sportsgrounds, the quality an accelerated life cycle due to are already operating above and design of playing surfaces extended use. Sportsgrounds capacity at many sites, the must reflect best practice need to be developed to patrons of sportsgrounds, be they approaches. Council will need withstand increased wear and clubs or Associations, will need to employ adaptable, multi- tear, especially in the context of to accommodate a different purpose design principles that changing climatic conditions. way of playing and organising allow space to change according Sportsgrounds are increasingly competitions. This could include: to shifting community needs. For being used for both informal and • Sharing the use of councils, the ability to maintain formal sporting activities which sportsgrounds and amenities the quality of surfaces and means that the space available buildings with different sports, extend the hours of use of the will have to manage and support clubs and Associations playing surfaces, will be at the competing interests. The cost centre of resource planning and of maintenance will increase in • Competition matches held decision making. In strategic order to maintain a high quality on week nights in addition locations, this is likely to include standard. to weekends the use of synthetic surfaces. • The use of different sportsgrounds for training and competition purposes • Supporting complementary use of sportsgrounds for formal and informal sports • Exploring the potential for partnerships with sports clubs, schools and other bodies.
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Shared and Joint Use Building community arrangements. cohesion.
Leading practice in In places where there is sportsgrounds planning and significant population growth, provision has seen many local as well as growing diversity, governments move away from sportsgrounds become an exclusive-use arrangements with important community focal sports clubs towards facilitating point that bring people together the right mix of activities, clubs and promote social connection. and events at each sportsground Sportsgrounds are neutral to meet community need. Joint spaces where a diverse range planning and collaboration of people can come together to with the NSW Department of play informal and formal sport, Education for the shared and connect with others and with joint use of facilities will be critical nature. Sportsgrounds provide to success. Clubs will need to a forum for conversations that accommodate different models add to the understanding of the of playing and competition, community and assist people which could include sharing to connect with the information the use of sportsgrounds and and resources necessary for amenities with different sports strengthening citizenship. clubs and organisations and exploring the potential for partnerships with sports, schools and other bodies.
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Princes Park City of Melbourne CASE STUDY
“Princes Park is one of Melbourne’s most valued and well-used inner parks”
In 2012, City of Melbourne To support changing demand, Part of the redesign includes released a masterplan to set the the masterplan supports the upgrades to the playing surfaces strategic direction and guide provision and management of to enable flexible community the management of Princes sports grounds which are used use. Works included regrading, Park, Melbourne. Located less for competition and training irrigation and drainage than three kilometres from the throughout the year. In summer, improvements and best practice centre of Melbourne, it provides the park includes infrastructure turf surfaces. A fully accredited a setting for a wide range of for 4 cricket grounds as well as a synthetic playing surface was also recreation and sporting activities. flexible sports area with 6 touch installed as part of this project. football fields (two within one Princes Park covers an area *Information and image sourced from “Princes Park cricket ground). In winter, the park of approximately 39ha and Masterplan” (2012) – City of Melbourne. supports one cricket ground and stretches for approximately 1.5km Image Credit: Melbourne University Soccer Club 8 full sized soccer pitches with along Royal Parade, forming sports lighting for the whole area. a significant connection into central Melbourne as well as a landmark for the community. Princes Park accomodates sports clubs for a range of activities, bowling, cricket and tennis facilities as well as a children’s playground and other amenities.
Like many sportsgrounds in urban environments, Princes Park is experiencing an increase in demand and expectation from the community.
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Carlingford High School CASE STUDY A Shared Use Arrangement
The NSW Department of The fields are used by a variety Education have an arrangement of sporting clubs. During winter, with City of Parramatta Council the ground is used for soccer and for the shared-use of Carlingford throughout summer, the ground High School’s three playing fields. is used for cricket and oz-tag.
These three playing fields are Of all the sportsgrounds owned by the Department of within City of Parramatta, the Education, however, the bookings Carlingford High School site is for this site are managed by our most used. Council. This means that these Carlingford High School Ovals playing fields can be hired out feature the following amenities: for community use outside of school hours. • Car Park Council is responsible for • Amenities building available at the maintenance of these the adjoining Roselea Park sportsgrounds and for ensuring appropriate use and booking mix for the community that access these fields.
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SPORTSGROUNDS NETWORK
Future What are the gaps and challenges Needs we face?
City of Parramatta: 2036 sportsground provision against benchmark 466 (+316)
150
Total (HA) 2016 Ideal provision based on benchmark for 2036 population (HA per 1,000 people) KEY: Sportsground Space 2036 population benchmark
Benchmark Analysis
City of Parramatta’s future population is Current sportsground space provision of 147ha will estimated to grow to 466,000 people by 2036. be equivalent to 0.32 ha per 1,000 people at 2036, Benchmarking would justify 316 additional hectares compared to the 1ha/1,000 people benchmark. of sportsground space, bringing this to a total Catchments 3, 4 and 6 will have particularly of 466 hectares. low provision of Council owned or managed sportsgrounds for their projected population size at 2036.
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City of Parramatta by Catchment: Outdoor Recreation and Sportsground Space* at 2036 – Compared to Population Benchmarks
Existing Outdoor 2036, 2016 Potential Gap in Catchment Recreation and 2036 ha/1,000 ha/1,000 Provision by 2036 Area Sportsground Population people people (ha/1,000 people) Space (HA)
One 70.9ha 65,321 1.09 1.30 0.91
Two 81.4ha 73,375 1.12 1.60 0.89
Three 31.3ha 45,275 0.69 0.99 1.31
Four 82.6ha 136,133 0.61 1.45 1.39
Five 73.6ha 49,609 1.48 2.07 0.52
Six** 14.8ha 54,432 0.27 0.78 1.73
*Council owned or managed parks and sportsgrounds only- excludes natural and general community use. ** Note there is no sportsground provision in catchment 6
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Increasing Use of Council Sportsgrounds
Through embellishment from approximately 1,300 hours use arrangements. Of Council’s and increased maintenance to approximately 1,625 hours of 32 sportsground sites, 13 are used schedules, it is possible to possible use per week. by more than one sporting club improve efficiency, increase during a season. There are currently nine carrying capacity and usage of sportsgrounds (with one or more Enabling sharing of Council’s existing sportsground fields) within Council’s network sportsgrounds by multiple network, creating maximum value that are used much less than sports clubs will help to achieve for the community from our open 21 – 25 hours per week, and have increased use and distribution space network. Council will also great potential to provide more of use across Council’s need to rethink how it manages formal sporting value to the sportsgrounds and ultimately formal sports, and enables community. achieve higher participation sharing of sites with multiple outcomes for users across a sports clubs for the benefit of our Increasing Shared Use of diversity of sports. growing population. Fields by Multiple Sporting Clubs A focus on better management Increasing Carrying of bookings as well as planning Capacity of Fields Shared use refers to the sharing for and delivering sites that of a physical asset by more Improving sportsground playing can support shared use than one group for a range surface (through improvements arrangements will increase of activities at the same time, in drainage, irrigation and turf the number of playing fields or at different times. Enabling quality), and in some instances available for public use. shared use of facilities can help by increasing maintenance to address challenges facing Sports clubs and Associations schedules, can help to achieve sportsground provision within will need to work together with a higher level of sustainable the context of a growing Council, State and Federal carrying capacity of fields of population, fiscal constraints and Government to address these 21 – 25 hours per week, compared increased demand on facilities. challenges and identify strategic to the 16 – 20 hours per week Shared use requires provision responses to ensure our that is currently possible across of multi-field configurations, sportsground network is able our network. supporting infrastructure to respond to the needs and By investing further in Council’s and pavilions and amenities expectations of both our current playing field surfaces, we could buildings which can serve more and future communities. sustainably increase sportsground than one user group. Currently, carrying capacity, and therefore Council’s facilities are not best hours of use for the community, positioned to cater for shared
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Expanding the Sportsground Network
Benchmarking analysis of demand to 2036 estimates the shortfall in sportsgrounds for our community to be equivalent to 316 additional playing fields. This is not something that can be realised in the current and increasingly urbanised environment of City of Parramatta.
Expansion of Council’s current There are several public schools Council acknowledges that sportsground sites through and non-government schools indoor recreation facilities redesign and capital works is within City of Parramatta will play a vital role in possible. However, regardless of that have playing fields of an complementing our existing strategies to increase use and appropriate size that have sportsground, parks and expand fields at Council’s current been identified as having the outdoor recreation network and sportsgrounds, there will still be a potential to service the broader alleviating some of the demand gap in sportsground provision for community for formal sports. on our open spaces. our fast growing population. Harnessing the potential of our Council will need to plan for, What are the opportunities 12 growth precincts, including prioritise, grow and manage our for expansion? Westmead, Camellia and indoor recreation facilities to Carter Street, especially where operate in conjunction with our Council must work with others land uses are fundamentally green open spaces providing to increase community access changing and new communities increased opportunities for our to sportsgrounds outside are being developed, will be community to engage in formal of its own network for both critical to increasing the supply and informal recreation. formal and informal uses. of sportsgrounds that require Alternative innovative options large parcels of land and are for partnerships and provision in hard to retrofit into existing built a highly urbanised environment neighbourhoods. must also be considered, along with land acquisitions and Proactively advocating for, creation of new facilities. and planning with, developers of larger sites for provision of sporting open space in both traditional and non-traditional forms is part of the solution, as is seeking out partnerships with others who have open space like universities, government, private business and churches.
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Eric Primrose
Reserve CASE STUDY City of Parramatta Council
Eric Primrose Reserve is located allow for multiple user groups. • Improving the carpark to at 41 John Street in Rydalmere. The site is also not currently used accommodate increasing The suburb of Rydalmere sits for formal sports use in summer demand. at the western end of a growth as it has no relevant sports • Installation of energy efficient corridor that also includes infrastructure to support summer sportsground lighting to cater Ermington and Melrose Park. sporting opportunities. for additional fields. Significant population growth There are opportunities to • Installing stormwater harvesting is expected in and around Eric overcome these limitations and and usage infrastructure Primrose Reserve, with the to significantly increase the with full irrigation to the increasing development of passive informal and formal sportsgrounds. high density apartments. In the sporting uses at the site. Re- • Centralising and upgrading context of exponential growth, designing Eric Primrose Reserve of current building to create access to active and passive will assist in accommodating the a multipurpose hub. open space becomes even more growing surrounding residential critical to support our growing community of Rydalmere. • Reconstructing sports turf population and meet community to improve usage quality Opportunities at the site include: need. By 2036 an estimated and quantity. 13,200 additional dwellings • Expanding the number of fields • Increasing links into and (19,700 in total) and an estimated and associated supporting around the site to key public 36,100 additional people (54,000 infrastructure to increase infrastructure such as cycle in total) are forecast to live in formal sports use (from 2 fields and shared pathways and to this corridor. to 3 full size fields, full size the broader recreation network cricket ground and full size In its current setting, Eric Primrose of City of Parramatta and the AFL field). Reserve is limited in its ability local residential community. to cater for the high growth • Expanding and upgrading expected in Rydalmere. This is outdoor recreation facilities on due to the layout of the sporting the site. fields which do not enable • Relocating and embellishing efficient use, and therefore the playspace to better connect are underutilised. Further, the with other park facilities and poor location and layout of the cater for more usage. amenities building does not
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What Our Community Has Told Us…
Between August – October 2017, the draft Community Infrastructure Strategy was on public exhibition
This period of engagement • Improved function and • Easily accessible sportsgrounds allowed Council to better usability of open space while that are co-located with other understand the needs and respecting the character and community facilities expectations of our community. heritage of areas throughout • Improved supporting facilities This information has been used our LGA for sportsgrounds that can to strengthen this document. • Appropriate quality and better meet user needs (e.g. Through this consultation quantity of sportsgrounds to amenities) process, we heard that: match the expected growing • Upgrades to our sportsgrounds demand in different sporting Our community values: to increase capacity codes (e.g. AFL) • The important role our sportsgrounds play within our community • A diverse network of sportsgrounds that meet a variety of user needs “…There is a need to ensure Our community would facilities in the LGA match the like to see: increase in female participation • An increase in provision of and for sporting facilities to be sportsgrounds, particularly up to a standard that will reflect near high density dwellings the needs of diverse users with a variety of cultural backgrounds” • Arrangements for the sharing of school facilities with - Resident submission “…There is a need to to public exhibition the community, including configure sports fields sportsgrounds, where it is in the best orientation appropriate to do so possible to improve utilisation.”
- Sporting Club, submission to public exhibition
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Synthetic Playing Fields – An Alternative to Traditional Turf Surfaces
As our population grows, City of Parramatta will need to look to innovative approaches to address our significant gap in sportsground provision. In the absence of adequate sportsground provision, facilities such as synthetic playing fields and indoor/outdoor recreation spaces can provide alternative options for the community to engage in formal and informal recreation opportunities.
Synthetic playing fields, also Strengths: Weaknesses: referred to as artificial turf fields, • Can accommodate up to than • Health and environmental pose an alternative to traditional 60 hours of use per week impact concerns natural turf surfaces. They are flexible, multipurpose assets, • Condition of playing surface is • Contributes to urban heat which have the capacity to more consistent and durable • Heat absorption of playing handle high levels of usage. As • Reduces annual renovation surface community demand increases, costs many councils in NSW have • Artificial feel • Aesthetics chosen to invest in the provision • Strong odour of synthetic playing fields as a • Not weather dependant • Costly to install means of increasing the carrying • Provides environmental capacity (time the fields can be • Costly to maintain benefits including water saving used for activity) of playing fields. • High asset renewal cost The strengths and weaknesses • Provides a year round option for further consideration of for high impact sport usage • Disposal of materials at end of life synthetic playing surfaces are: • Incorporates advances in technology
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• Shorter asset life – typically lasts between 7 years (for 60 hours of use per week) to 10 years (for 40 hours of use per week) • On-going maintenance and specific hardware will need to be invested in to ensure successful maintenance of the playing surface (costs increase as levels of usage increase) City of Parramatta Council is developing a framework to guide decision making on the provision of synthetic playing surfaces in our LGA.
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Northbridge
Oval CASE STUDY Synthetic and Turf Field
Northbridge Oval is located on Synthetic surfaces can also Since it has been built, the Sailor’s Bay Road, Northbridge provide a safe and consistent Northbridge Oval has been NSW, within the Willoughby LGA. playing surface that can embraced by the community, with withstand greater wear and tear. some stating that the field had It is a dual purpose artificial turf The Northbridge Oval allows for exceeded their expectations. The football (soccer) pitch designed intensive training sessions during fact that the oval will be green all and constructed to FIFA 1 the week, whilst providing a high- year round is especially valued. Star standards and a cricket performance facility for weekend oval designed to Cricket NSW *This information has been sourced from competition. standards. The project replaced http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/your- neighbourhood/recreation/sportsground/ an existing natural turf oval and As part of the project, a new northbridge-oval/ is the first publicly available lighting system was installed, synthetic turf sports fields of its consisting of five towers providing Image credit: Northbridge Football Club size in Sydney. a 100 Lux illumination of the soccer pitch and practice areas. The site has a total surfaced area of 11,000m2 and was completed in April 2011. It took 26 weeks to build and cost around $1.3 million to deliver.
Synthetic fields are able to operate at around three times the capacity of a grass surface. The durability and flexibility of a synthetic field means that matches can be conducted in all weather conditions throughout the year.
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Strategic Challenges We Face Together
Our sportsgrounds enable healthy active living for our residents and foster broader community wellbeing, through access to informal and formal sporting and recreation opportunities.
We will need to plan and How can we ensure our What partnerships use our resources to find Q. sportsground network Q. and collaborations will solutions to the following remains flexible and responsive assist us to expand the network critical strategic challenges: to accommodate the changing of sportsgrounds and other sporting and recreation alternative spaces across our How can we increase and needs and preferences of our LGA for our community to access maximise the utilisation Q. community in a growing, more for both formal and informal of our existing sportsgrounds to culturally diverse more high sport and recreation? meet the needs of a variety of density environment? user groups (formal and informal) What funding strategies now and into the future? How can we ensure best Q. will be most successful practice infrastructure is for delivering best practice How can we increase and Q. delivered at existing and new sites? sportsgrounds and supporting support shared use of Q. infrastructure in both the short sites by multiple sports clubs? and long term?
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SPORTSGROUND NETWORK Future Directions
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Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 469 Sportsground Network
Strategic Directions
To meet the needs of City of Parramatta’s growing and increasingly diverse community, Council will seek to realise quality sportsgrounds in each catchment. This will enable the delivery of essential informal and formal sporting and recreation space to meet the needs of residents and visitors to the City of Parramatta.
It is appropriate for Council to • Develop better connections Increase access for the continue to work in this area, as between sportsgrounds community to sportsgrounds this provision is often not met by • Repurpose parks to not under Council’s the private market and demand accommodate both formal ownership: is growing. and informal sports • Develop shared and joint use To do this, City of Parramatta • Repurpose alternative arrangements with schools for Council will focus on the following (non-traditional) spaces for community access to school strategic directions: both formal and informal sportsgrounds for informal and formal sporting uses Increase Council’s own sport and recreation sportsground network • Give consideration to the use • Develop shared and joint use using the following of synthetic surfaces where arrangements with businesses, approaches as relevant: it is deemed appropriate for government and not-for- the site and current and future profits for community access • Increase playing surface at uses to sportsgrounds and sporting current sportsgrounds through spaces for informal and formal • Seek land acquisition in high redesign sporting uses growth areas for sports fields • Increase the carrying as part of precinct renewals capacity of current playing fields through supporting Increase and maximise infrastructure upgrades or the use of all of Council's embellishments, playing sportsgrounds through: surface upgrades and • Proactive programming, increased maintenance matching of user requirements with available assets, and establishing shared use arrangments between sports clubs
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City of Parramatta Sportsground Network: 20 YEAR PROVISION TARGETS
Through collaboration, partnerships and the resources of may, we seek to achieve the following targets for our community:
Number of Council Owned full size playing fields 63 2019 Current supply 80 2036 Future supply based on future population growth
Number of shared-use full size playing fields within schools (NSW Department of Education) 3 2019 Current supply 16 2036 Future supply based on population growth
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Key Recommendations
CATCHMENT 1 Suburbs – Winston Hills, Toongabbie, Westmead, Northmead, Old Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville & Constitution Hill Expand Council Sportsgrounds
Suburb Sportsground Maintain Improve Embellish Full Seek to Comments and Playing Current Redesign develop review as Surface Design and new necessary Infrastructure facility Toongabbie McCoy Park • Environmental considerations at this site
Winston Hills John Curtin • Environmental considerations at this site
Northmead Northmead • Potential for 1 x new Reserve full size sports field • Potential for 1 x new half size sports field Northmead Arthur Phillip Park
Old Toongabbie Binalong Park
Winston Hills Max Ruddock Reserve
Develop ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds
School Name/Address/Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School • 2 x additional full size fields - 28 Campbell Street, Northmead • 2 x additional half size fields
• Toongabbie East Public School • 1 x additional full size field - Harris Road, Wentworthville
• Toongabbie West Public School • 2-3 x additional full size fields - 83 Ballandella Road, Toongabbie • 1 x additional half or full size field
• Pendle Hill High School • 2-3 x additional full size fields - Cornock Avenue, Toongabbie
• Winston Heights Public School • 1 x additional half or full size field - 51 Buckleys Road, Winston Hills
New provision opportunities
Suburb Potential Number of Additional Sports Fields
• 1 x new full size field. Progress planning as part of Westmead • Westmead Master Plan process
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Catchment Catchment 2 3 Catchment 1
Catchment Catchment 4 5 CATCHMENT 2 Suburbs – Carlingford, North Rocks, Dundas, Dundas Valley & Telopea Catchment Expand Council Sportsgrounds 6 Suburb Sportsground Maintain Improve Embellish Full Seek to Comments and Playing Current Redesign develop review as Surface Design and new necessary Infrastructure facility Carlingford Cox Park • Potential for 1 x new full sized sports field • Environmental considerations at this site Carlingford Murray Farm • Environmental Reserve considerations at this site Dundas Valley Sir Thomas • Potential for 1 x new Mitchell full size sports field Reserve • Potential for 1 x new half size sports field Carlingford North Rocks • Refer to adopted Park master plan Carlingford Peggy Womersley Reserve North Rocks Speers Road • Environmental Reserve considerations at this site Dundas Dundas Park
Telopea Homelands Reserve Carlingford Harold West Reserve
Develop or continue ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds
School Name/Address/Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Full redesign of site • Carlingford High School • 2 x additional full size fields - North Rocks Road, Carlingford • Site not owned by Council
• Cumberland High School • 1 x additional full size field - 183 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford
• James Ruse Agricultural High School • 1 x additional full size field - 17-31 Felton Road, Carlingford
• Murfield High School • 2 x additional full size fields - Barclay Road, North Rocks
New provision opportunities as they arise
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CATCHMENT 3 Suburbs – Epping, Beecroft and Eastwood Expand Council Sportsgrounds
Suburb Sportsground Maintain Improve Embellish Full Seek to Comments and Playing Current Redesign develop review as Surface Design and new necessary Infrastructure facility Eastwood Somerville Park
Beecroft Roselea Park
Epping Boronia Park
Epping West Epping Park
Develop ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds
School Name/Address/Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Karonga School • 1 x new full size field Karonga Cl, Epping
New provision opportunities as they arise
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CATCHMENT 4 Suburbs – Parramatta, Granville, Camellia, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Harris Park, Mays Hill, Rosehill and Clyde Expand Council Sportsgrounds
Suburb Sportsground Maintain Improve Embellish Full Seek to Comments and Playing Current Redesign develop review as Surface Design and new necessary Infrastructure facility North Parramatta Dan Mahoney • No current provision Reserve of formal and informal sporting use
North Parramatta Belmore Park • Requires a masterplan • Potential for 1 x new full sized sports field
North Parramatta Barton Park • Environmental considerations at this site • Potential for 1 x new full sized sports field
Parramatta Ollie Webb Reserve
Parramatta Jones Park • Explore potential for water re-use plant at this site North Parramatta Doyle Ground • Environmental considerations at this site Granville FS Garside • Undergoing master Park planning
North Parramatta PH Jeffery • Undergoing master Reserve planning
Parramatta Robin Thomas Reserve
Develop ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds
School Name/Address/Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Parramatta West Public School • 1 x additional half or full size field Young Street, Parramatta
• Macarthur Girls High School • 1 x additional full size field Thomas Street, Parramatta
New provision opportunities
Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Camellia • 1-2 x new full size fields
• Granville/Clyde • 2 x new full size fields
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CATCHMENT 5 Suburbs – Melrose Park, Rydalmere and Ermington Expand Council Sportsgrounds
Maintain Embellish Seek to Improve and Current Full develop Suburb Sportsground Playing Comments review as Design and Redesign new Surface necessary Infrastructure facility
Ermington George Kendall • Refer to adopted Riverside Park masterplan • Environmental considerations at this site Rydalmere Upjohn Park • Environmental considerations at this site Rydalmere Rydalmere • Refer to adopted Park masterplan
Rydalmere Eric Primrose • Potential for 1 Reserve Park x new full sized sports field
Develop ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds
School Name/Address/Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Rydalmere Public School • 1 x additional full size field 397 Victoria Road, Rydalmere
• Rydalmere East Public School • 1 x additional half size field Spurway Street, Ermington
New provision opportunities as they arise
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CATCHMENT 6 Suburbs – Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Lidcombe/Carter Street, Silverwater and Newington Expand Council Sportsgrounds Maintain Embellish Seek to Improve and Current Full develop Suburb Sportsground Playing Comments review as Design and Redesign new Surface necessary Infrastructure facility
Newington Newington • No current provision Reserve of formal and informal sporting use • Potential for 1 x new full sized field
Develop ‘shared use’ arrangements for community use of School sportsgrounds as opportunities arise
New provision opportunities
Suburb Potential Number of Additional Playing Fields
• Carter Street • 1 x new full size field
• Sydney Olympic Park • TBC
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Criteria to Guide Decision Making for New Sportsgrounds
The following criteria complement, and are to be used in conjunction with, City of Parramatta’s stated principles for community infrastructure planning found on pages 61-63.
Council will use these criteria to guide decision making and discussion with stakeholders and partners about new sportsground facility provision.
For all scenarios, Be of adequate size to support junior and senior sports? will the additional • Be a minimum of 180m x 180m and support 2 x full size rectangle sportsground site: playing fields and support a full size cricket and AFL boundary? • Allow for enough additional space for supporting infrastructure (including parking, lighting, sporting pavillion, seating)? • Be free of significant overshadowing with good solar access to ensure sports field grass can grow?
Include draining, irrigation and flood lighting?
Give consideration to the changing climatic conditions of the LGA?
Be configured to support multiple sports users (both sporting pavilion and field)?
Employ universal design principles, be Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant and meet Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) requirements?
Include adequate parking provision? • Ideal provision of 50-80 spaces (site dependant)
Be located near public transport?
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For all scenarios, Provide a sporting pavilion that is flexible in design to support will the additional wider meeting room uses by the community? sportsground site: • Ideal inclusion of meeting space of no less than 100m2 • Kitchen facilities (Continued) • Toilets • Store rooms • Referee facilities • Kiosk • Change rooms
Be financially viable, as demonstrated through a financial feasibility assessment that includes construction, ongoing maintenance and renewal costs as well as operational costs?
Be provided as unencumbered land, free of contamination or remediated to satisfactory levels?
Be of adequate size to support informal recreation? • Circuit Tracks • Play Spaces • Picnic Areas • Fitness Equipment
For More Information:
This Community Infrastructure Strategy draws • “Sharing the Opportunities of Growth for All – on the knowledge and experience of many Socially Sustainable Parramatta Framework” staff from across Council who have a passion for enabling socially sustainable communities. • City of Parramatta Council’s Website: Together with feedback from our community, www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au and our key stakeholders, this document has • City of Parramatta Customer Contact Centre: been a shared effort. 9806 5050
For further information on City of Parramatta’s • For access to demographic data log onto: Sportsground Network, or Council’s key http://profile.id.com.au/parramatta strategic directions, the following resources are available:
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