Norman Griffith synthetic turf upgrade to start after last minute release of environmental impact report

A synthetic turf upgrade at a sporting hub has come under fresh scrutiny after residents were given two weeks’ notice to provide feedback on an environmental report before construction works begin.

Construction materials have already arrived at the site.

A synthetic turf upgrade at a popular north shore sporting hub has come under fresh scrutiny after residents were given two weeks’ notice to provide feedback on an environmental assessment report before construction works begin.

Ku-ring-gai Council is due to start a $3.3m upgrade of Norman Griffiths Oval at West Pymble on Monday – just two weeks after releasing a review of environmental factors (REF) report into the contentious project.

The synthetic turf upgrade is aimed at meeting demand for sporting facilities in the local government area by providing durable playing grounds that can be used throughout the year including after major rain events.

Residents, environmental groups and the state’s National Parks and Wildlife Service have raised concerns over potential environmental impact of the project including stormwater run-off and impacts on bushcare sites near the main sporting fields.

Residents have also questioned why the project was approved in September before the final review of environmental factors was finalised and released to the public in February.

A map showing the location of the project.

The review of environmental factors report states all potential environmental impacts could be “suitably mitigated within the site”, including a raised surface above the flood level to “ensure there is limited run-off of any synthetic materials”.

Multiple residents have written to the council raising concerns over the “limited” two week consultation window to review the REF.

The council had originally proposed to begin construction on March 6 – one week after the 72-page report was released – but extended it by one week to March 13 to allow the public more time to read it.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service wrote to the council on Friday stating the department was “deeply concerned” that works were due to start as soon as March 13.

The synthetic pitch is due to open to the public by the end of 2023.

“Our in-principle support for the upgrade was contingent on ongoing detailed consultation around the proposed design and management strategies to mitigate impacts to the creek, the downstream environment and Lane Cove National Park,” the email to the council stated.

“I feel that Ku-ring-gai Council has not undertaken the agreed consultation and as a result NPWS cannot offer support to the design in its current form.

The new facility will cater to local sporting groups.

“I request an important follow up meeting to assure us that mitigation measures and appropriate maintenance programs will be put in place to ensure no downstream impacts will occur.”

Resident Bronwen Hanna – a former Ku-ring-gai Council bushcare co-ordinator who resigned from the role due to environmental concerns over the project – questioned why consultation was limited to two weeks for a project costing $3.3m.

“Four to six weeks consultation is standard for major project of this scale in such a fragile environment and it’s important there is proper security of a REF given the history of the project so far,” she said.

“We need experts to look at the REF including the heat study which has not been peer reviewed and two weeks’ is completely inadequate.”

A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman said no feedback or consultation was required from residents on a Review of Environmental Factors report.

“The REF was available to read on the council’s website as per the council resolution of February 2022,” she said.

“There is no formal requirement for consultation on an REF. A REF is a process to review effects on the environment and a method of documenting them.

Resident Bronwen Hanna

“A deferred commencement was negotiated with the contractor for a further week to provide the community additional time to read the REF.

“The REF states that there is a low environmental impact. The council has also taken a number of steps to ensure the management and construction of the project minimise any effects on the environment.”

The council previously told this publication a preliminary review of environmental factors had been developed and provided to councillors before the project was approved by councillors in September.

Ku-ring-gai councillor Christine Kay has requested an extraordinary council meeting to be held to discuss the project and the approval process.

“An adequate consultation period, which is standard for a project of such magnitude, is necessary for residents and experts, so they are able to scrutinise the REF,” she said.

“Councillors and residents need to be assured that the environmental impacts of the field have been properly examined and mitigation measures are robust.”

Construction is due to begin on Monday.

The review of environmental factors report states stormwater will be directed through a bioretention basin for quality treatment prior to discharge from the site.

“The stormwater detention system has been designed to offset the removal of the grass playing fields as a stormwater detention basin,” the report stated.

“This should not negatively impact the existing stormwater system in place and has been designed to allow for minimal disturbance of existing trees and ecological systems.”

The upgrade of Norman Griffiths Oval has previously been subject to staunch community debate – highlighted by a petition signed by more than 1700 people objecting to the project.

But sporting groups have backed the project, including the Northern Suburbs Football Association and West Pymble FC which have long struggled with drainage issues and grass coverage at the site.

The current sports fields will be closed to the public and games relocated while works take place. The facility is to reopen to the public by the end of November, providing work is not delayed by wet weather.