Warringah Recreation Centre, North Manly: $5m cash splash in boost to community sport
Community sport on the northern beaches is getting a $5m boost with money from the NSW Government and the council to rebuild the Warringah Rec Centre.
Manly
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A popular northern beaches’ community sports centre is set to be rebuilt after a close to $5 million dollar public cash injection.
The state government will fork out $3 million, which will be added to funds from the council, to revamp the partially rundown Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly.
It will become a neighbour — across the road — to the proposed new headquarters for the Manly Warringah Gymnastics Club and close to the yet-to-built new clubhouse for the Warringah golf course.
The council has confirmed that the recreation centre upgrade, to be completed in partnership with the NSW Office of Sport, will continue to host tennis, futsal (mini-soccer) and squash.
And the squash centre will be completely overhauled, allowing it to be used for elite competitions as well as, potentially, offering racquetball, yoga, and table tennis.
The funding injection comes six months after the Manly Daily reported on a campaign by Australian squash great Michelle Martin to save the dilapidated squash centre — the last publicly-owned squash courts on the northern beaches on Kentwell Rd.
Martin, a four-time world women’s squash champion from Queenscliff, had feared the three council-owned courts at North Manly could be bulldozed — and not replaced — as part of a redevelopment of the existing recreation centre.
Martin, who coaches at the ageing three-court squash facility, which is leased to a private operator, fronted a council meeting in May, pleading for more support for squash.
“Squash has not declined in numbers due to a lack of interest, it has declined due to a lack of facilities,” Ms Martin told the council.
The council said the new recreation facility would have a minimum of three indoor squash courts.
There will also be five new synthetic tennis courts with floodlights, spectator seating, fully accessible public toilet, changeroom and community storage as well as footpaths, bike racks and landscaping.
The new tennis courts can be reconfigured to offer a variety of court-based sports.
Mayor Michael Regan said the state government would help enable the community to enjoy and take part in sport now and into the future.
“A big thankyou to the State Government for supporting our local sport infrastructure, which plays a critical role in keeping our community healthy, active, and connected,” he said.
“This rejuvenated asset, particularly with accessible amenities, will replace an existing facility that no longer meets the needs of our community and will support the huge growth in sports participation among woman and girls.”
As part of the agreement the revamp is expected to begin by July 2023 with construction completed by the end of 2025.
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