Residents ejected from Ku-ring-gai Council meeting as North Turramurra grandstand debate reaches fever pitch

The chief executive of one of Sydney’s biggest football associations said kids were left crying and in “shock” during a heated council meeting that descended into a shouting match and saw residents booted from the chambers.

A photo from the meeting, showing residents and young footballers who support the new grandstand development.

A north shore council meeting descended into a shouting match as community tensions over a major suburban sport upgrade reached fever pitch.

Angry residents were heard yelling out “shame” at this week’s Ku-ring-gai Council meeting as councillors engaged in a heated debate about a multimillion-dollar sport upgrade of North Turramurra Recreation Area.

The highly-contentious project has been several years in the planning stages and includes building a new grandstand to be funded and primarily used by the Northern Suburbs Football Association, catering for its 17,000 junior and senior players.

Staunch critics of the project packed the council meeting with several objectors heard swearing and calling out as councillors debated whether to enter into an agreement with the football association for the facility to be built on council-owned land.

Two residents had to be ejected from the chambers at the request of Mayor Jeff Pettett.

A concept image of the new grandstand.

The meeting was also attended by supporters of the grandstand development including young football players who showed up to the meeting with their parents.

Kevin Johnson – the chief executive of the Northern Suburbs Football Association – said he was “shocked” by the lack of decorum during proceedings – and said police should have been called in to intervene.

Northern Suburbs Football Association chief executive Kevin Johnson.

“There were threats and swearing and got completely out of hand in my view,” he said.

“There was an 11-year-old in the council chamber who was left crying because someone was being abusive. When we left the chamber there were several people waiting for us outside.

“There were a lot of young footballers in attendance to support the project and the hostile atmosphere was eye opening for them to say the least.

“A couple of us were fearing for our safety. I personally think the police should have been called.”

The long-planned project includes a new 300-seat spectator grandstand.

Debate among councillors at the meeting was partly centred on whether the council should enter into a heads of agreement with the Northern Suburbs Football Association for the construction of the new grandstand and associated facilities.

Councillor Martin Smith – a supporter of the project – said the development of a purpose built grandstand would have social benefit – including for female football players who currently have to “get changed in the cars” due to lack of female change facilities at the site.

Councillors opposed to the development raised concerns over potential traffic impacts from the development, whether its use primarily for football would come at the expense of other sports such as netball, and whether the project would incur any costs and liability for the council.

Resident Christine Drake – who opposes the development – said the heated scenes at the meeting were indicative of the community’s angst towards the project.

An outline of the development.

“I think it shows the overwhelming opposition from the community because as ratepayers we were induced to pay a levy to the council to get community facilities for green space in the municipality and what we’re now getting is a facility for one sporting group,” she said.

“Residents have continually put forward evidence about why we oppose the development and the council has paid no attention to our concerns.

“While I don’t condone any abusive behaviour I understand why people think they’re not being heard and why they were forced to speak up at the meeting.

Councillor Cedric Spencer has raised concerns over the project.

Councillor Martin Smith is a supporter of the project.

“The council should be aware that this is the most contentious development that’s ever happened to the area.”

Ku-ring-gai Council in a statement confirmed two members of the public were asked to leave the meeting. 

“The mayor asked two members of the public gallery to leave the meeting due to continual disruption and offensive language in front of children,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

Mr Johnson has meanwhile responded to concerns over the funding for the development, saying all costs would be covered by the football association.

The questions came after the football association lost one of the two NSW Government grants awarded to the association to build the project. The grants awarded included a main $3.6m grant for the grandstand and a $500,000 grant for the new changerooms.

However, due to an error in the application process applying for two grants, the NSW Government has rescinded the $500,000 grant.

Mr Johnson said the association had raised more than $2m on top of the $3.6m grant to cover the estimated $5.5m estimated cost of the project and is in the process of raising another $500,000 to $1m as a contingency fund.