Chatswood OOSH located at Chatswood Oval Trumper Pavilion, is a fundamental part of the community. It connects members of the community (parents, children and staff of the facility). It helps local families and helps the community. It exposes children from a young age to their local facilities where they may feel a long-term connection and sense of belonging to the area. It definitely has local significance for our community (even for children not in OOSH as they pop by to see their friends).

But sadly, Willoughby Council has decided to close it down from December 2023, with the support from Gordon District Rugby Club and Gordon District Cricket Clubs, which are NOT even local sports Club, claiming the facility of Trumper Pavilion at Chatswood Oval is no longer suitable for OOSH use and need to restore for sporting use.
 
Chatswood OOSH has been operating for decades and nothing has suggested the facility is no longer fit for purpose. If there is time clash between Clubs use and OOSH operating hours, Willoughby Council should work together with the Club to find an alternative solution that works for both parties, instead of just shutting down the OOSH completely, leaving the desperate local families behind and educators out of job. The Clubs also claim that the clash of the time also means it’s dangerous for the children as they sometimes go to the oval. We, as Chatswood local residents has the right to utilise the Oval and nearby facility. If the Clubs trains daily in the afternoon, and children are not allowed to be near the Oval, where are our children going to do our sport? Our children have the right to play freely in the Oval.

Both Gordon District Rugby Club and Gordon District Cricket Clubs should consider source other playgrounds as their bases in upper northshore. Ku-ring-gai Council should be involved to provide their local sport clubs a playground so that Chatswood Oval could be returned to Chatswood local residents.
 
Please sign the petition to keep Chatswood Oval for local residents and keep Chatswood OOSH open for local families.