Bayside Council considers additional synthetic sports fields Pagewood, Mascot, Kingsgrove

A south Sydney council has reignited ‘turf wars’ over the environmental risks posed by synthetic sports fields, with residents, footballs clubs, and councillors divided about how the region can cope with the community’s sport demands.

Bayside Council has proposed the installation of three all-weather synthetic sports fields. Picture: Braden Fastier.

A council meeting has reignited ‘turf wars’ over the environmental risks posed by synthetic sports fields.

It comes after three councillors, Christina Curry, Jo Jansyn and Joe Awada, put forward a proposal for additional all-weather fields to be built in south Sydney at last month’s Bayside Council meeting.

The councillors said existing facilities could no longer meet the needs of the local community as the population grows and sports clubs vie for fields battered by overuse.

“There is a critical need to increase the number of playable hours and diversify the types of play surfaces available for different sports facilities across Bayside to accommodate our growing communities,” the councillors’ motion read.

“Existing facilities are under strain due to the high level of usage, necessitating improvements in the quality and durability of the playing surfaces to meet current and future demand.

“The clubs are now in a situation where they have had to say no to children as they cannot accommodate more players while balancing the need to rest the fields.”

Christina Curry was one of three councillors to put forward the motion. Picture: Supplied

Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) research director Doctor Scott Wilson opposed the motion. Picture: Supplied

According to a council report, Jellicoe Park in Pagewood, L’ Estrange Park in Mascot and Kingsgrove Avenue Reserve in Bexley have been slated for the new turf installations.

However, residents have been quick to oppose the prospect of more fake grass.

Concerns have been raised about how the materials in synthetic grass contaminate the environment and contribute to urban heating, after the $2.5m turf at Gardiner Park recorded surface temperatures of up to 88C during summer.

Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) research director, Dr Scott Wilson, said the run-off from artificial grass also posed risks to waterways and beaches in the region.

“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the amounts of two types of microplastics, synthetic grass and rubber crumb, washing up along our rivers and coasts, which we feel is directly linked to the installation of synthetic sports fields,” Dr Wilson said.

Jellicoe Park in Pagewood is one of three locations slated for a synthetic field. Picture: Craig Wilson

“All of these fields, irrespective of measures taken, release microplastics, heavy metals, and other possible contaminants in to the environment.

“End-of-life management, the discharge of microplastics and other contaminants in downstream waterways and local beaches should be prime consideration in any decision making.”

Dr Wilson further lobbied council to consider the “pros and cons” of synthetic against those of natural turf fields, such as the newly constructed Barton Park in Banksia.

Yet despite the alternatives on offer, sports clubs said they need all-weather facilities to survive the full season.

Bexley North FC general manager Edward Yazbeck told council his club has been forced to turn away players due to the lack of quality sporting fields available at their home ground, Kingsgrove Avenue Reserve.

“A natural playing surface simply cannot stand up to the wear and tear of the regular season for our club, and it also provides no opportunity for off-season use due to scheduled maintenance and recovery,” he said.

Local football clubs supported the motion, citing the need for durable facilities to cope with the volume and frequency of sport played. Picture: Braden Fastier.

“By about round four of each season the ground becomes unplayable. It deteriorates greatly and … this means a lot of games are lost or cancelled.”

“(As a result) the club simply cannot continue to grow and support a further increase in numbers, particularly in the female teams this year where our club introduced caps due to the constraints we are facing.”

Following the council meeting and public forum, Bayside Council will prepare a comprehensive report for the November meeting detailing options for implementing all-weather fields in three locations.

Council vowed to “draw on the significant advancements made in developing environmentally friendly all-weather playing” in making the report.