Warringah Recreation Centre, north Manly: Demolition workers move in to start community sports hub refurb

Work has started on the much-anticipated — and long-awaited — multimillion-dollar makeover of a popular community sports centre on the northern beaches.

Demolition workers moved in this week to bulldoze the Northern Beaches Council's Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly as part of a long-awaited $5m refurbishment plan. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

A popular community sports hub is being bulldozed by the Northern Beaches Council.

But it’s not the end, with the demolition ordered to allow for the long-awaited refurbishment of the rundown Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly.

The upgraded multi-sport facility will have five new synthetic tennis courts with lighting, up to five squash courts, better toilets and changing rooms that are open to the public, and improved parking.

Five-a-side futsul (mini-soccer) can be played on the tennis courts.

Meanwhile, the squash centre will accommodate between three and five courts, allowing it to be used for elite competitions as well as, potentially, racquetball and table tennis.

Demolition work has started to tear down structures at the Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The centre will also have pedestrian links — across Brookvale Creek — to the new Warringah Golf Clubhouse to be built just north of the facility at the corner of Kentwell and Pittwater roads.

The state government’s Office of Sport has provided $3m towards the $5m refurbishment budget.

Demolition work is expected to be completed in December. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

The rest of the money is coming from the council.

Back in June, 2022, this masthead revealed Australian squash great Michelle Martin was campaigning to save the current, dilapidated squash centre — the sport’s last publicly owned courts on the northern beaches.

The rundown squash courts at the Warringah Recreation Centre. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The squash courts in June 2022. Picture; Jim O'Rourke

Martin, a four-time world women’s squash champion who coaches at the centre, had feared the three courts would be bulldozed — and not replaced — as part of the redevelopment

“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.

Former world champion squash player Michelle Martin, from Queenscliff, lobbied the council to update the squash facilities at the Warringah Recreation Centre. Picture: David Swift

Mayor Sue Heins said on Thursday that residents of the northern beaches were “avid sports and outdoor participants”.

“To help people engage in a healthy lifestyle, the council is committed to providing and maintaining quality infrastructure, parks and accessible amenities,” Ms Heins said.

Demolition work has started on Northern Beaches Council's Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

“Plans for the redevelopment of Warringah Recreation Centre have been in the design and approval process for some time, and we are excited to see this long-awaited project come to life.”

The demolition phase is expected to be finished in December, with construction set to be completed by early to mid-2026.