Westfield Chatswood: first look at new $11m rooftop sports, basketball, recreation hub

The rooftop carpark of one of Sydney’s largest shopping malls is set to be transformed into a major sporting and recreation hub. See what’s planned:

The rooftop carpark of one of Sydney’s largest shopping malls is set to be transformed into a multimillion dollar sport and recreation hub.

Westfield Chatswood has unveiled plans to replace 73 carparking spaces on the sixth level of the shopping complex with new basketball courts, table tennis facilities and fitness equipment.

The $11.4 million development will be called the ‘Rec Club’ and will be able to be used by shoppers, residents, local sporting clubs and community groups.

The club could cater for up to 150 people at a time and also includes court lighting, landscaping works, shaded areas, seating, and new stairs connecting the hub to the fifth level of the shopping complex.

Scentre Group, the owner of Westfield, said the aim of the development was to create a community hub and “make use of currently under-utilised rooftop parking”.

A concept plan of the development.

“The proposal will optimise the use of scarce land within the Chatswood CBD to provide much needed recreational opportunities for the growing population,” a company spokesman said.

“The project will deliver a first of its kind, innovative multi-sport and recreation concept, and contribute to the future success of the Chatswood CBD.

A photo of what the development would look like from street level.

“It will also promote opportunities for publicly accessible recreational and social activities where communities can interact while being in a highly accessible location.”

The proposal is the latest rooftop transformation planned by Westfield which is also proposing to add a new indoor family entertainment centre on the top of Westfield Miranda and a rooftop dining and leisure precinct at Westfield Mt Druitt.

Modelling by Scentre Group predicts the Chatswood recreational club could generate 38,000 extra visits to the site each year, generating $18 million for the local economy.

It could also help address a dire shortage of sports facilities on the north shore which prompted recent calls from local sporting groups for car parks to be turned into playing grounds to address demand.

A concept plan of the new seating areas.

Plans show the sports facility would be able to be hired free of charge via a booking system by residents, sporting clubs and community groups.

Scentre Group has held early meetings with Willoughby Council to discuss the plans where issues including loss of carparking and traffic were raised by council staff.

Plans have been lodged to Willoughby Council.

Plans stated that a study of the existing parking demand calculated 59 per cent of spaces were being used by shoppers during February – 30 per cent lower than the average 90 per cent across the entire centre.

“The loss of 73 carparking spaces results in a minimal overall net reduction of 2 per cent of total carparking spaces at the site,” the plan stated.

If approved, the Rec Club will operate seven days a week from 7.30am to 9pm and will be overseen by a club manager, two ‘club hosts’ and a guest services attendant.

The plans are currently under assessment by Willoughby Council.