Majors Bay Reserve, Canada Bay: State government funded footy pitch locked to public, parents cry foul

A government funded $7 million synthetic turf soccer field has been locked to the footy keen public due to council concerns over ‘vandalism’ - and local parents are crying foul.

The pitch cost $6.9 million and was funded between council and the state government. Picture: Ben Williams

Sydney parents are crying foul after a million-dollar, publicly funded, synthetic footy turf was locked to the public last year, stripping local kids of putting their soccer skills to the test.

The synthetic pitch at Majors Bay Reserve in the City of Canada Bay local government area was jointly funded by council and the state government and cost $6.9 million to build when it opened in mid-2020.

But less than 18 months later, the popular facility has been made off limits by the local council due to concerns over “vandalism” at the site.

Local mum Tracey Bucciarelli, whose two footy-mad kids regularly used the oval, said she was frustrated and confused by the decision to lock the gates late last year.

“My son would go down to improve his footy skills with his mates, and sometimes it would be shut, sometimes open,” she said.

“And then when I agitated a bit to council, all of a sudden the doors were locked to the public all the time.”

The $6.9m facilities and synthetic pitch at Majors Bay Reserve. Picture: Supplied

Angry kids, parents and councillors outside the locked pitch in Canada Bay. Picture: Supplied

The pitch was initially open to the public when it wasn’t being used for organised soccer, a plan that Ms Bucciarelli said worked well, before gates started to be locked shut last year.

“My son and his friends like going there so they can practise with the goals,” Ms Bucciarelli said.

“And with all the rain, the public parks were all waterlogged, so it (the locked gates) really limits the space kids can go and play.”

Canada Bay Council, in a statement, blamed vandalism of the turf as the reason for locking the pitch to the public.

“The Majors Bay Reserve Synthetic Football Field was intended to be available to the public when not in use for organised sport,” a council spokeswoman said.

“Unfortunately, the facility was subject to ongoing vandalism and was temporarily closed to the public.”

Local councillor Andrew Ferguson said although vandalism was “a real challenge to the community” it should not come at a cost to access to greenspace and sport.

Local kids who want to play soccer said they were being locked out of the synthetic pitch.

The gap made by soccer-mad local kids to access the pitch. Picture: Supplied

Tracey Bucciarelli and her son Luca. Ms Bucciarelli said kids just wanted to play soccer. Picture: Supplied

“To close down access to a park or sporting fields to the public for a year is unacceptable,” he said.

“Council should at least immediately take off the locks and chains in daylight hours and let local kids kick a ball and play.”

Labor’s candidate for Drummoyne Julia Little said there needed to be a “balance”.

“We can work together to find the right balance – to implement measures that deter vandalism and protect the playing field but also ensure our community has access to enjoy this great facility,” she said.

While not condoning it, Ms Bucciarelli said a tunnel had been burrowed under the fence at the pitch by footy-mad kids who just wanted to play soccer.

“Kids do climb over the fence, someone’s actually dug a hole under it, so it’s an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

The pitch is formally shared between Concord Juniors and the Inter Lions clubs, which form the Canada Bay Football Institute.

While the facility has been closed to the general public, both clubs have been granted access by the council to continue playing at the facility.

Canada Bay Council did not respond to speculation it was investigating having a private operator run the facility.

The success of the Socceroos in Qatar has led to calls to increase grassroots soccer funding and spaces.

Ms Bucciarelli believes the council should guarantee the site remains in public hands.

“My concern is if a private operator runs the facility there may be a conflict of interest in opening it to the public,” Ms Bucciarelli said.

“I really don’t understand why we need a private operator to run it – isn’t it as simple as getting the ranger to close the gates at night and open them in the morning?”

In a statement, the council said public access to the pitch would hopefully be reinstated after a review of operations.

“Being an all-weather facility, the pitch is widely used by the community through local sports clubs,” a spokeswoman said.

“The City of Canada Bay is currently reviewing operations with a view to reinstate public access when it is not being used for organised sport.”

A similar synthetic pitch at Tempe Reserve has no gates and is open to the public when not in use by organised sports clubs.

The success of the Socceroos in Qatar has led to calls to increase grassroots soccer funding and spaces.

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