Warringah Rec Centre: Squash legend Michelle Martin wins campaign for new North Manly courts

One of Australia’s greatest squash players raised a racket during her campaign to secure the future of the only public courts on the northern beaches. Now she looks set for a win.

Squash champion Michelle Martin has been lobbying Northern Beaches Council to make sure that squash courts were included in the refurbishment of its Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly. Picture: Annika Enderborg

A three-time world champion is set to hit the winning shot in her campaign to save the last publicly-owned squash courts on the northern beaches.

Michelle Martin, from Queenscliff, has been lobbying for more than three years to ensure the council keeps courts open at the popular Warringah Recreation Centre.

Martin feared that when the dilapidated squash centre at North Manly was bulldozed, as part of the current $6m revamp of the centre, it would not be replaced.

But a $2.3m development application for three new courts near the corner of Pittwater and Kentwell roads will be examined by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel on Wednesday.

The DA is part of the wholesale refurbishment of the sports’ hub that will also accommodate five new synthetic tennis courts with lighting, better toilets and changing rooms that are open to the public as well as improved parking.

An artist's impression of the squash courts building at the proposed new Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly. Picture: Webber Architects

Five-a-side futsal (mini-soccer) can be played on the tennis courts.

The centre was demolished just before Christmas.

Plans to transform the site it into a sporting and community hub, which includes a new Warringah Golf Clubhouse, have been drawn up.

The layout of the Northern Beaches Council's proposed new Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly with the squash building in dark red at the bottom right. Picture: Supplied

Martin, who was a coach with the North Manly Squash Club that used the ageing squash courts’ building, had been worried that the sport would not be included as part of the revamped centre.

She told the council in 2022 that the new squash facility should have room for at least six courts, which could also host national and international competition as well as school, local and social competitions.

“Squash has not declined in numbers due to a lack of interest, it is declined due to a lack of facilities,” she said.

Of the 32 submissions received by the council in favour of the DA, 19 urged that the size of the building be increased from three to five courts.

An artist's impression of the front of the squash building at the revamped Northern Beaches Council Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly.

An artist's impression of part of the proposed new Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly that will include five new tennis courts. Picture: Webber Architects

The now demolished, rundown squash courts at the Warringah Recreation Centre at North Manly in June, 2022. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Martin, who also won two squash gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, said she wanted to make sure there were public courts in the area to help grow the sport again.

“There’s a whole generation of kids, if you talk about squash, they go ‘what?’,” she said.

“If it’s in a new warm environment, not the dungeon that (it was in) then it shows the sport in a whole new light that will attract a new generation of players.”

Originally published as Warringah Rec Centre: Squash legend Michelle Martin wins campaign for new North Manly courts