Blacktown City Netball Association forced to cancel almost half its season fixtures over council ‘neglect’ of playing courts

One of Sydney’s largest netball clubs has spoken out against the shocking state of council-owned playing courts that have resulted in cancellation of almost half the club’s fixtures in 2024.

One of Sydney’s largest netball clubs is pleading for a local council to carry out overdue upgrades to a community sporting hub in the city’s west due to uneven and flood prone playing courts that have resulted in cancellation of almost half the club’s fixtures this season.

Members of the Blacktown City Netball Association have called for Blacktown Council to fulfil a 10-decade old promise to improve its home ground facilities at International Peace Park in Seven Hills.

Netball association secretary Karen Szczerbanik said the neglect of the council-owned facility had resulted in players having to use courts that are cracked, uneven and deemed unplayable during wet weather.

“The poor quality of the courts has been a major issue for the association as the courts are dangerous to play on even in the slightest showers,” she said.

“This has resulted in the cancellation of five out of the 12 netball rounds so far for the 2024 seasons which is unacceptable.

Multiple games have had to be cancelled due to poor playing conditions.

“The poor conditions for the courts not only affects the safety and enjoyment of players, spectators, volunteers and umpires, but the financial viability of the association.

“We feel like we’ve been overlooked and neglected by the council because the facilities are outdated and don’t meet the standards or expectations of the modern netball player.”

The poor conditions of playing surfaces has been attributed to decline in membership numbers in the netball association which has dropped from 2900 in 2014 to 2100 members this year.

An example of how the courts look following rain events.

There are calls for the council to upgrade the facilities.

Ms Szczerbanik said disruptions caused by the dilapidated facilities had resulted in some members joining other netball completions equipped with better facilities.

Blacktown Council has also been accused of “overlooking” the sport of netball in favour of upgrading other local sporting facilities used by male dominated sports.

Blacktown City Netball Association technical services manager Carol Aitken said a decade old promise by the council to improve netball facilities has yet to be fulfilled.

Outdated facilities are a concern for the netball association.

“It doesn’t seem fair to us that our facility is in a poor condition in comparison to other sports when we have been promised upgraded facilities for the last 10 years,” she said.

“I’m going to stick my neck out here and say if this was a male dominated sport we would have a brand new stadium or maybe a centre of excellence.

“Women and girls in Blacktown have as much right to play sport on decent facilities and deserve better.”

The stalemate over improved facilities for the netball association comes after previous plans were considered by the council to create a new netball facility at Nirimba Fields in Schofields with 40 netball courts – a proposal that has yet to materialise.

Local councillor Bob Fitzgerald has called for Blacktown Council to carry out a report into the feasibility of providing upgraded facilities at International Peace Park including playing courts, amenities and administration facilities.

In a statement, a council spokesman said the council “is working closely with the netball association to finalise plans and development of a new home for Blacktown netball with over 40 courts planned at Reserve 980 in Nirimba Fields”.

“Blacktown City Council remains committed to the maintenance and delivery of first-class facilities to our city’s local athletes and sporting groups including netball,” the spokesman said.

“Netball is a vital sport in our community, and council has held regular discussions with the Blacktown Netball Association as we continue the ongoing cost-effective maintenance and necessary repairs on the netball court surface at the International Peace Park.”

Ms Szczerbanik is hopeful the council will expedite upgrades to ensure the club can thrive into the future.

“We’re keen to grow the sport however we can’t achieve our goals without adequate facilities that meet our standards,” she said.

“We’re the largest female sport in Blacktown and were not asking for a handout, but a fair partnership with the council that recognises and supports our sport.”