Extended baseball training, matches at north shore park sparks opposition among residents

Plans by two baseball clubs to extend training hours at a north shore park have sparked opposition among residents with concerns over noise, traffic and impacts on other sporting clubs.

Usage of the baseball facility would double under the proposal.

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A plan to open up a north shore park for extended baseball training and competition games has divided opinions among residents with concerns over noise, traffic and impacts on other sporting clubs.

Surging membership at the North Sydney Leagues Baseball Club and North Sydney Junior Baseball Association has prompted plans to extend their use of the baseball diamond at Bicentennial Reserve in Willoughby.

Plans lodged to Willoughby Council show the clubs want to double the amount of training and competition time from Tuesday to Thursday evenings to 6pm to 9pm on Monday, Friday and Saturdays.

The location of the baseball facilities

The changes would result in up to 150 people at the facility during evening periods and up to 56 extra cars on surrounding streets.

North Sydney Junior Baseball Association president Les Tyrpenou said the extension would address the rising popularity of the sport and demand for extra training time.

“Baseball is a relatively less intensive game as compared to other sports and because of that the club has experienced significant growth,” he said.

The extension would apply to the Flat Rock Baseball Diamond at the site.

“This is the only baseball facility in the area so there’s aren't a lot of other options for us (to expand).”

Willoughby South Progress Association has raised concerns over the plan due to potential traffic and noise impacts on surrounding homes.

Association president Linda Tully believes the proposal should also be rejected on Fridays during the peak netball season.

“When combined with other sporting clubs’ activities (the extension) will have an impact on noise, parking, traffic and the general accessibility to other activities particularly during the netball season,” she said.

Baseball clubs have experienced significant growth on the north shore.

North Sydney Leagues Baseball Club president Andrew Stone said players would be encouraged to reduce noise impacts on surrounding properties.

“It’s not a vast amount of noise or interference that would be created so hopefully everybody can find a resolution,” he said.

“There’s a desperate shortage of playing facilities on the north shore and the better use we can get out of the facilities we have the better.”

Plans stated Bicentennial Park “has been operating as a recreational facility for a considerable time with no known impacts on the local environment.”

The Naremburn Progress Association has also opposed potential impacts from construction works on the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel project that could result in “airborne contaminants adversely affecting the health of players and spectators”.

If approved, the extension is expected to apply from later this year.