Roselea FC calls for Carlingford ovals upgrade
They are rated the worst playing surfaces in Parramatta — and now a football club is losing members over fears of children being injured on substandard sporting fields.
They are rated the worst playing surfaces in Parramatta — and now a football club is losing members over fears of children being injured on substandard sporting fields.
Just days out from the new season, Roselea FC officials say its membership has fallen from 800 to 650 in the past year as three ovals behind Carlingford High School, on North Rocks Rd, fall foul of basic playing conditions.
The club’s vice-president of women’s football, Rohan Primrose, said the Carlingford ovals were “downright dangerous” at their worst.
“Last year, a 10-year-old player fell into a collapsing buried concrete culvert (drain) on the field under where he was standing … luckily without injury,” he said.
“The ovals’ playing surface has no drainage or irrigation, and the soil is hydrophobic (water repelling) so any rainfall does not soak in and cannot run off due to poor levelling.
“And the lighting in places is as low as 20 LUX, well below national standard of 50 LUX for training.”
A funding impasse between Parramatta Council and the NSW Education Department has meant that much-needed improvements to the surfaces and lighting have gone begging.
Epping ward councillor Donna Davis said the council — which maintains the fields — was seeking a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an extended 10-year period.
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“This would allow us to apply for significant grants to upgrade the ovals,” Cr Davis said.
“We have to find a solution to this. People are leaving the club because of the condition of the fields.
“Rydalmere FC recently secured a State Government grant of $5 million for their masterplan. The same thing needs to happen for Roselea FC.”
An Education Department spokesman said it was in talks with council over the lease of the fields and upgraded lighting at the Carlingford location.
Roselea FC, established in 1967, caters for players from under-5s to over-40s.
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