Ku-ring-gai’s first indoor sports centre approved for St Ives High School

A decision has been handed down on plans to build the first indoor sports centre in the Ku-ring-gai region after sparking mixed opinions from residents and sporting clubs.

Plans to build the first indoor sports centre in Ku-ring-gai have been approved after sparking mixed opinions from residents and sporting clubs.

The Sydney North Planning Panel has approved a new two storey indoor sporting complex at St Ives High School which will be available for use by students and the wider community.

The project – jointly funded by the Department of Education and Ku-ring-gai Council – will involve demolishing the existing school gymnasium to make way for the project.

A concept plan of a new indoor sports centre at St Ives High School

Budgeted at $19.6 million, the complex will have four main sports courts along with spectator seating, a cafe, change rooms, basement carparking and other facilities.

It will also address the region’s demand for sporting facilities with Ku-ring-gai Council set to hire the facility for team and individual sports outside of school hours.

There are no publicly available indoor sports courts within the council area. The nearest facility is currently located in Thornleigh.

The facility will be available for students and the wider community.

North Shore Basketball League club manager Yoel Hyman said the facility would be a major boost for sport on the upper north shore.

“We have about 500 members at the moment and we’ve had issues with the existing facility at the school – everything from cleaning, multiple closures due to building work and issues with heaters comprising the ceilings,” he said.

“Unless you’re with a private school or closer to the larger associations there are very limited indoor facilities and we’re restricted with the number of hours because there are so many hirers.

North Shore Basketball League manager Yoel Hyman.

“Basketball is becoming more popular on the north shore – having some of the powerhouses in the NBA has helped the exposure of the sport and a lot of our members purely play for the social aspect.

“Any additional community space is a huge win and I’m very eager to see this going ahead.”

Nearby resident Cheryl McNamara said construction works on the hall had already been an imposition for residents and feared the second stage could cause further disruption in the area.

“During the stage one process the amenity of our home was severely impacted – we would have trucks at all times of the night (and) also had trucks park across our driveway, tradies who would park in our driveways” she said.

The project will be jointly funded by the State Government and Ku-ring-gai Council.

“This went on for many months.

“From what we can understand the stage two development will completely take away the green space view from our front yard.”

The planning panel – which held a Zoom meeting to consider the plans earlier this month – heard further objections from residents over potential impacts including traffic, noise and parking.

In determining the plans, the panel said the complex would “provide much needed facilities for the school and the local community” and was in the “community’s interest”.

Once completed, the facility will open until 11pm on school days and am from 7am to 11pm all non-school days.

Conditions of approval include the closure of windows after 6pm to reduce impacts on neighbours.