Kuring-Gai Council is proceeding rapidly to construct a synthetic field at Norman Griffith’s oval. While we all agree that the oval is in dire need of an upgrade, there are growing concerns about the impact of synthetic fields  on our community and the environment. These concerns were recently raised in the NSW Government's Synthetic Turf Study and the NSW Chief Scientist has been asked to investigate further.  

At the next Council meeting on 15th February , Councillor Greg Taylor will put forward a motion to ensure that an environmental review is completed BEFORE construction begins at Norman Griffiths Oval.

This is very reasonable and absolutely the minimum the council should be doing. It is not even asking for the project to stop, merely asking for a proper environmental review of the project as well as financial assessments to be made available and undertaken before proceeding. We are asking you to write a quick email to your councillors in support of this motion before next Tuesday 15th February.

Suggested wording (feel free to add your own words):

I support Greg Taylor's motion to ensure that construction of the redevelopment of Norman Griffiths Oval does not commence until a report is brought before Council that includes (a) the final review of environmental factors and (b) the final design and associated development and maintenance costs.

Your councillors are:

Comenarra Ward
jpettett@krg.nsw.gov.au and gtaylor@krg.nsw.gov.au

Gordon Ward
bward@krg.nsw.gov.au and slennon@krg.nsw.gov.au

Lindfield Ward
sngai@krg.nsw.gov.au and ataylor@krg.nsw.gov.au

St Ives Ward
ckay@krg.nsw.gov.au and martinsmith@krg.nsw.gov.au

Wahroonga Ward
cspencer@krg.nsw.gov.au and kwheatley@krg.nsw.gov.au

Thanks for your ongoing support,
Friends of Norman Griffiths Oval

Notice of Motion from Councillor Taylor dated 28 January 2022:

West Pymble Football Club has, for many years, struggled to provide suitable field conditions for its members at their home field, Norman Griffiths Oval in Bicentennial Park, in West Pymble.

A synthetic turf redevelopment of the football club’s home field has been proposed, the planning phase of the project has progressed, a contractor has been assigned and construction of the field is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2022.

Residents of Ku-ring-gai have expressed concern about how quickly this project is progressing without the completion of, or public access to, several important documents required to evaluate the environmental impacts of the project and the ongoing costs associated with the long-term maintenance requirements of a synthetic sporting field of this magnitude.

I therefore move that:

A. the construction phase of the redevelopment at Norman Griffiths Oval not commence until a report is brought before Council, that includes:
i. the final Review of Environmental Factors,
ii. the final design, and the design’s associated costs, including contingencies, and
iii. a rundown and costing estimation of the long-term maintenance requirements of both best-practise natural turf and this particular synthetic turf development, up to 40 years. This rundown and costing estimation is to include the maintenance requirements of associated infrastructure for each different sporting field surface. For example, the costs required to maintain in-let and out-let water filtration devices, and any other associated infrastructure.