Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen: ‘Unsafe’ popular synthetic athletics track closed indefinitely

‘Unsafe” conditions have forced the indefinite closure of a popular synthetic athletics track in Sydney, used by elite athletes as well as local juniors, as authorities try to work out what went wrong.

The synthetic athletics track at the NSW Government's Sydney Academy of Sport on Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen, was padlocked on Thursday as sport authorities try to work out what has made the track “unsafe” for runners. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

Frustration is ramping up in the athletics sporting community about the shocking state of the “unsafe” synthetic running track at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen.

The 400m track has been closed since December 21, forcing elite athletes to train elsewhere and Little Athletics meets to be cancelled due to massive “bubbles” forming in its surface.

And about 70 school athletics carnivals have had to reorganise their events as the NSW Government’s Office of Sport is investigating why the track’s surface, replaced in 2019 and repaired, due to flooding, in 2022, is still deteriorating.

Now a push is on by local MPs to find another location for a full-sized synthetic track on the northern beaches.

Barriers set up on the athletics track at the Sydney Academy of Sport on Thursday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The Office of Sport set up a temporary track on football ovals on the Academy site on January 30, but it is only six-lanes wide, instead of the usual eight, and has been closed several times due to bad weather.

It has invited schools to use it for carnivals and for athletics organisations, such as the Manly Warringah Athletics Association (MWAA), to use it for training.

Former Olympic sprint finalist, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and World Indoor champion, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, trains a squad of sprinters at the Academy.

Melinda Gainsford-Taylor on the track at the at Sydney Academy of Sport in February 2020, with two runners she trains, Scott Wong, 17, and Sally Priest, 15. Picture: Ryan Osland

MWAA president Jeff Wrightson said that athletes were becoming frustrated that the facility was now not up to scratch.

Mr Wrightson said bubbling on the surface, which appeared to be caused by water seeping up under the track, was occurring in patches up to 2 sqm, making it dangerous for runners.

“It’s been a nightmare,’ Mr Wrightson said.

“For some athletes, like hurdlers, they have to find other places with synthetic surfaces, like E.S. Marks Field at Kensington and Sydney Olympic Park, where they can train.

“Whether the cause of the track surface bubbling is due to inadequate drainage; poor track

repairs; flooding; or rising sea levels, the problem has been known for the past five years.

“Why wasn’t the appropriate action taken well before now?”

An image showing what appears to be damage to the synthetic track at the Sydney Academy of Sport earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

President of Manly Warringah Little Athletics. AJ Jauncy said the organisation was left devastated by the track closure.

“This meant our 800 athletes were without their regular athletics competitions for January.

“We had to cancel the season for our under 6 age group.”

The federal Independent MP for Mackellar, Sophie Scamps, who represented Australia as an 800m runner at the World Junior Games, and the Independent State MP for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, have called for urgent action.

Dr Scamps wants the state and federal governments to find another site within the northern beaches for a second elite level track so top athletes were not forced to travel for hours to train.

The Little Athletics Regional Championships at the Sydney Academy of Sport in 2016. Current Little Athletics meets at the track have been affected by the unsafe conditions. Picture: Troy Snook

“It will also significantly impact athletes hoping to compete in the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032.

“Asking elite sprinters to train on a grass track is like asking Olympic swimmers to train in an

ocean pool or the local dam.”

A sign at the entrance to the NSW Government's Sydney Academy of Sport on Thursday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

An Office of Sport spokesman said it was closed “due to damage to the track surface making it unsafe for use”.

“The six-lane, 400m temporary athletics track is available for training by both user groups and casual visitors, Little Athletics clubs and school sports carnivals.”

The spokesman confirmed that contractors were assessing the damaged track, but a timeline for reopening was yet to be determined.

On February 8, geotechnical investigation work, including drilling test bore holes, began.

“These works will enable the Office of Sport’s contractor to monitor and understand how the site responds to a range of weather conditions, in particular wet weather, with the results to guide the next stage of the remediation process.”