Gore Hill Oval sports facility plan to serve St Leonards, Crows Nest

Major plans have been released for a new indoor sports facility on Gore Hill Oval. But critics say the project will take up valuable open space and could delay ambulances.

Demand for new sporting facilities to meet the north shore’s rapid population growth has prompted plans for a major sporting hub in St Leonards.

Willoughby councillors have backed plans for a new indoor sports centre at Gore Hill Oval in a move to provide much-needed facilities for local clubs and to cater for the 6800 units planned in Crows Nest and St Leonards over the next 15 years.

Plans show the $57.9 million project would include six indoor courts, a sports hall, gym, and a multipurpose area for meetings and clubs.

There would also be a cafe, retail spaces and 182 underground car parks.

The facility will be located south of the existing oval.

The centre would be built on a grass area bordering the Pacific Hwy and Reserve Rd – currently a popular outdoor area for residents and staff from the nearby Royal North Shore Hospital on their lunch breaks.

The site’s proximity to the hospital has prompted concerns from local councillor Lynne Saville about possible conflicts with emergency vehicles using Reserve Rd to access the hospital’s emergency ward.

Cr Saville has also objected to loss of green space and called for the council to investigate relocating the facility to the site of the oval’s existing grandstand.

The facility is aimed at addressing demand for new playing space.

The centre will provide facilities for the increasing number of units in St Leonards and Crow Nest.

“That part of Gore Hill Oval is one of the few open spaces left in the area and with the amount of high-rise units going in and it should be treasured rather than being turned into another building,” she said.

“An indoor sports facility would also generate a lot of extra traffic and if there are cars and buses blocking Reserve Rd it could become incredibly difficult for the emergency vehicles accessing the hospital.

“Royal North Shore is one of the main trauma hospitals for the state and even in the best of times many ambulances use Reserve Rd. There shouldn’t be anything that impedes that access.”

Plans by the council show the indoor facility is the second stage of upgrades at Gore Hill Oval which kicked-off with the completion of a synthetic turf oval in 2019.

A concept plan of the indoor facility

The council said the indoor facility would “fill a gap” in the availability of local sports facilities with modelling showing the number of people playing court-based sports in the Willoughby, Lane Cove and North Sydney council regions is set to increase from 17,890 to 21,390 by 2036.

Early feedback from residents showed the current shortage in facilities has resulted in some residents not participating in sports.

Northern Suburbs Basketball Association Graeme Reid said the centre would allow the club to provide the space for its 5000-plus members.

“We’re turning away teams at the moment – there’s a shortage of facilities for all indoor sports in the area and we’ve stopped advertising for players because we haven’t got the facilities to accommodate all our players,” he said.

“We play during the week, Friday nights and on Saturdays we’re starting at 7.30 in the morning and finishing after 8pm to get through all the teams. We’re in dire need of new space.”

The council has already earmarked $46 million towards the project and will partner with government agencies and stakeholders to fill the $11 million funding gap.

Plans show loss of open space required to make room for the facility could be offset by future development of a “green” and/or “playable space” on top of the facility.

If approved, the facility could become home to clubs including the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association, the Northern Beaches Hockey Association, the Northern Suburbs Netball Association and Volleyball NSW.

Detailed plans are set to be finalised later this year with construction due to begin in 2023.