Willoughby sporting clubs speak out over council’s gender allocation of suburban sports fields

A plan to make suburban sporting facilities exclusively available for female sport one day a month has prompted concerns the proposal could create ‘less equity’ in sport. Have your say.

Concerns over the policy have been flagged by the North Shore Bombers.

A plan to make suburban sporting grounds exclusively available for female sport has prompted concerns the proposal could lead to ‘less equity’ in grassroots sport.

Willoughby Council is facing resistance over a proposed overhaul of how it allocates sporting facilities, including making Gore Hill Oval at St Leonards exclusively available to women and girls’ sport at least one Sunday per month.

The council’s policy is aimed at addressing the rising number of female athletes participating in sport and ensuring “fairness and gender balance” is included in the provision and allocation of community facilities.

The changes would also impact Northbridge Oval, Thomson Oval and Chatswood High School Oval which would be allocated to women and girls sport for one Sunday per month on days currently classified as ‘rest days’ in which no sport is held.

The council policy has won high praise from Sydney Swans AFLW co-captain Maddy Collier who said it could encourage more women to play sport at a grassroots level.

Sydney's Maddy Collier. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I think any proposal that will allow women to play more sport is a good thing – especially if it means they can use all of the facilities by themselves,” she said.

“Giving women more opportunities to play sport and use the best community grounds in Sydney will fast track development and increase motivation to get out and compete.”

The North Shore Bombers has about 150 female members.

But some sporting clubs have hit out at the plan including AFL club North Shore Bombers which has about 150 female players and has held meetings with the council calling for a rethink of the policy.

Club president John Goode said the club had consulted female players who have opposed female-only days at Gore Hill Oval.

“We’ve consulted with our female members and their very strong message to us is they want to have integrated competitions because they see themselves as equal members and not an adjunct to the club,” he said.

“We set up our programs from the start to make sure there is no bias towards women and the way we run the club isn’t influenced by gender – for instance the coaching support is the same and the players are on all on the same deal.

Gore Hill Oval is included in the council’s policy changes.

The policy is aimed at addressing a rise in female sport on the north shore.

“Our female members all want to maintain that and moving to female-only days is stepping away from inclusiveness and integration.”

Similar concerns have been raised by Northbridge Football Club which has called on the council to reconsider the proposal.

Willoughby mayor Tanya Taylor said the policy was aimed at ensuring equity in the allocation of sporting facilities.

“It is natural that there is always debate and discussion as to whether the council has the right policy settings in place to manage current and future usage of these important sporting facilities,” she said.

“(The plans) seeks to ensure the council is focusing its attention on supporting community sport and that we are setting aside enough space for the rising number of female athletes.”

Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor.

Other changes the council is considering include allowing more weekend booking times for community sport at Northbridge Oval.

In a statement, Willoughby Council said it would consider feedback from sporting clubs as part of consultation on the proposed changes.

“All of the feedback will be reported to council for their consideration and determination before the policy and plan are adopted and finalised,” a spokeswoman said.

Surveys of local sporting clubs show clubs are predicting the number of females playing sport is expected to rise by 30 per cent over the next five years.

Councillors are due to consider the proposal at a council meeting in March.