St Ives High School: first look at planned $20m sport centre

Plans have been revealed for a multimillion-dollar sports centre for the north shore which would serve one of the area’s largest high schools and the wider community.

An artist’s impression of the new facility.

A north shore council has released ambitious plans to jointly fund a new sports centre at one of the region’s largest high schools in a move to create much-needed playing facilities for students and residents.

New indoor basketball courts, seating, a cafe and underground carparking facilities would be built at St Ives High School as part of a proposed partnership between Ku-ring-gai Council and the Department of Education.

The council would fund its share of the $19.6 million facility by taking out a $13.5 million loan it aims to cover through selling assets including the former Gordon and East Roseville Bowling Club sites.

The facility would be used by students as well as community groups and sporting clubs.

A draft agreement between the council and the Department of Education shows the facility would be available to the students during school hours and to the council after the afternoon school bell rings and could be leased to community groups as late as 11pm on weekdays as well as weekends.

Details of the agreement also show the facility could be used by the council during school hours with prior approval from the school and on the condition users meet child protection requirements and not access any other section of the campus.

Plans show the facility would be built on the western boundary of the school and would form the second stage of new sporting facilities at the 1046-student campus.

The facility would have new basketball courts.

The facility would have new basketball courts suitable for other uses such as netball, badminton, wheelchair sports, floor hockey as well as active seniors’ classes, chess club tournaments, Zumba classes and competitive cheerleading.

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Basketball Association member Vicki Dean said the facility would address soaring demand among sporting groups for indoor facilities, driven by increased sport participation and population growth on the upper north shore.

Ms Dean said the current shortage of playing space meant the association was splitting its games between the Thornleigh Brickpit Stadium, and at other schools including Knox and Abbotsleigh.

Vicki Dean said the project would provide much-needed playing space.

“We play wherever we can and often run games to 11pm so we can squeeze everyone,” she said.

“It’s not just us – the demand for facilities is out of control at the moment and all clubs are fighting for space.

“Everyone’s looking to play sport and the need for indoor facilities is ever increasing.”

A report by council staff noted there were various risks with the project including the potential for increased construction tender costs impacting budget allocations.

A concept plan of the project.

The council said loans would also have to be repaid from general revenue, resulting in impacts on other budget allocations, if asset sales do not eventuate.

If approved, the Department of Education would retain ownership of the facility and would have control over council’s approval of any sublicensee.

Funding for the project would also come from the State Governments Office of Sport which has provided $3.5m in grant funding towards the facility on the proviso the project is completed by May next year.

Ku-ring-gai Councillors are due to debate the project and proposed agreement with the Department of Education at the next council meeting on February 16.