Narrabeen sports academy to get new $6.7m world-class athletics track

The NSW Government has committed $6.7m to replace Narrabeen's troubled athletics track, with the new world-class facility set to open by September 2026.

The damaged synthetic running track at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen, has been closed since December 2023. Picture: Tim Hunter.

In a massive boost to athletics on the northern beaches, the troubled running track at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen will be replaced at a cost of $6.7m.

The state government has also confirmed it is pushing to have the new synthetic track at the Narrabeen facility open for competition and training between June and September next year.

It was closed when it became “unsafe for use” after massive “bubbles” appeared and its surface became loose due to water seepage.

Elite athletes, some training for Olympic and Commonwealth Games qualification, as well as local school and athletics club carnivals, have been prevented from using the 400m track since December 2023.

About 800 athletes have been forced to travel as far as the Central Coast to train even though the NSW Office of Sport set up a temporary 6-lane track on football ovals at the Academy.

NSW sports authorities said the surface of the track was too dangerous to use. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Manly Warringah Little Athletics president Andrew Jauncey has said that it, and other organisations, had experienced a drop in numbers due to the track closure.

Labor Upper House MP, Greg Donnelly, who has government responsibility for the northern beaches, revealed details of the track replacement to athletics’ officials on Thursday.

Sprint great Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, pictured in 2020, was training young athletes on the track. Picture: Ryan Osland

The news comes after a community push, led by local independent state and federal MPs to secure government funding to get the track reopened.

State MP for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, and Wakehurst MP, Michael Regan, lobbied Premier Chris Minns to find cash to fix the track — the only synthetic track in Sydney, north of the Harbour.

The independent federal MP for Mackellar, Sophie Scamps, who represented Australia as an 800m runner at the World Junior Games, has also been lobbying federal Sport Minister Anika Wells for money.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Donnelly outlined the scope and timing of the work.

NSW MPs Jacqui Scruby (Pittwater) and Michael Regan (Wakehurst), with federal MP Sophie Scamps (Mackellar) and Manly Little Athletics president, Andrew Jauncey and Athletics NSW CEO, Christian Renford, with young athletes on the closed Sydney Academy of Sport athletics track in March. Picture: Supplied

He confirmed that the $6.7m project would include a World Athletics-compliant synthetic track with a moisture resilient surface, new asphalt sub-base as well as drainage and stormwater system upgrades.

“The new athletics track … will be a world-class facility.”

Track designs were scheduled to be completed by October this year, a track builder appointed by November with construction starting in December.

Mr Regan said on Friday that while the funding news was welcomed “there’s still a long way to go”.

The Sydney Academy of Sport on Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen, is recognised as an Australian Olympic Training Centre. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“If the Sydney Academy of Sport Athletics Track project was a hurdle race, we’d have just cleared the second hurdle.

“There’s still a long way to go, but we now know how long the race is.

“The community has shown it has the stamina to go the distance and will definitely be there at the finish to celebrate the track’s completion.”

While the new track is being constructed, the temporary grass track at the Academy will continue to be available.

Originally published as Narrabeen sports academy to get new $6.7m world-class athletics track