We’re increasing recreation and sporting opportunities across our city to meet the need of our growing communities. This includes increasing the play at our sports fields by 16,000 hours by 2030 – that’s nearly 2 years of continuous playing hours.
5 new synthetic sports fields across our area will provide help us reach this goal.
The fields in Zetland, Annandale, Alexandria and Rosebery – and 2 in Alexandria – will give locals more opportunities to play sports and keep active more often throughout the year.
Our study of open spaces, recreation and sport needs showed us how people playing sport and using sports fields are changing. It also showed we need to increase the capacity of existing sports fields and build new ones to meet growing demand in our local area.
Durable and sustainable surfaces for all weathers
Wet weather, uneven and hard playing surfaces, lack of turf growth, as well as field closures due to re-turfing, significantly impacts our sporting groups and field operations.
High quality synthetic sports fields can be used by a greater range of sports year-round. They are less impacted by weather, less prone to closure and there is no annual need for returfing.
Synthetic sports fields remove the need to use fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides which are harmful to the environment.
Synthetic fields provide greater levels of use (available hours each week) than natural turf fields. Natural turf only provides 20 to 25 hours of use each week before it deteriorates with bare patches, uneven and hard playing surfaces. Annual returfing leads to an increase in water use and field closures, which impacts sports and recreation needs.
For every synthetic field we install, we’re able to retain two other similarly sized fields for passive and active recreation, while meeting the sporting needs of our growing community.
Updates on 5 new sports fields from Annandale to Zetland
Annandale: We’re asking locals for their feedback on plans to build a new compact synthetic sports field as part of our work to expand green spaces and recreational areas at The Crescent in Annandale. For more information visit our website.
Alexandria: In Alexandria we recently asked locals for their feedback on a proposal to build a FIFA sized synthetic sports field as part of the upgrade of Perry Park in this fast growing neighbourhood.
Alexandria: The area will gain a second synthetic sports field when the NSW Government’s redevelopment of Alexandria Park Community School is complete in 2022. This multipurpose field will be a shared facility managed jointly by the City of Sydney and the school, used by students and staff during school hours and by residents the rest of the time.
Rosebery: We’re asking locals for their feedback on the proposed upgrade of the sports fields to a synthetic surface at Turruwul Park in Rosebery. For more information visit our website.
Zetland: In February we opened a new multipurpose synthetic sports field in Gunyama Park in Zetland along with an aquatic centre and other fitness facilities.
Published 9 February 2021, updated 4 May 2021
