Community to have say on Mosman sporting clubs call for artificial turf at local ovals

MIDDLE HEAD and Georges Heights ovals could soon sport synthetic turf surfaces if the community throws its support behind the idea.

MIDDLE HEAD and Georges Heights ovals could soon sport synthetic turf surfaces if the community throws its support behind the idea.

It comes after local sporting groups revealed they had been forced to cancel several games this season because of deteriorating and wet fields.

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The Mosman Football Club is behind a push for a synthetic turf oval in Mosman. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG

Mosman councillors were presented with a report at this month’s council meeting which said both the Mosman Football Club and Mosman Swans Junior AFL Club had long sought support for a synthetic turf oval.

Mosman Football Club president Louise Walker told the meeting synthetic turf would provide a safe playing surface.

“We’re less than halfway through a main playing season and already several rounds have been affected by, or even called off entirely, due to wet weather and already our pitches are deteriorating,” she said.

“The pitch we currently play on suffers from being dug up by rabbits.

“While some outdoor sports would ideally be played on natural turf, the reality is that there are many challenges to providing a safe, even, consistent surface over a full season.

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“As committees of our clubs, our main priority is to provide a safe, even and true surface for our players and their guests to play on.”

Mosman Junior Swans AFL Club players could soon be playing on a synthetic oval.

The councillors gave the green light for community consultation to be undertaken on the proposal next month.

Mosman Swans Junior AFL Club president Justin Dethridge also addressed the meeting in support of community consultation.

Both ovals are on land managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

“The Harbour Trust would first need to understand the range of views in the community and undertake an assessment of the relevant issues raised before it would be in a position to decide whether or not it supports the proposal,” a Trust spokesman said.