Woollahra Council’s motion for netball courts sparks community ire

NIMBYS baulking over plans for two netball courts in Sydney’s east have sparked a debate pitting girls’ sports against the need to preserve the area’s green, open spaces.

Plans for two netball courts on a sporting field at Double Bay has locals divided between advocating for girls sports’ and protecting the area’s “dwindling” green spaces.

The plan in question is a $690,000 proposal by Woollahra Council to upgrade existing grass netball fields at Lough Park into acrylic and concrete courts, along with four 10m high floodlights.

Planning documents state the courts can be used “outside of daylight hours” and during winter, and would “go some way” toward unmet demand for informal recreation and training purposes.

While relatively early in the planning stages, the proposal has staunch opponents who fear the “cherished, passive green space” will be jeopardised.

Leading the charge is residents’ action group, Save Lough Park, which advocates for “protecting dwindling green spaces”, and whose petition has reportedly over 800 signatures.

Lough Park at Manning Rd in Double Bay. Picture: Woollahra Council

Issues included in the group’s comprehensive dossier are intrusive lightning, weeknight noise of “bouncing balls and whistles”, parking, traffic and flood risks.

Speaking for Save Lough Park action group, was landscaper Jacqueline Comino, who told last week’s council meeting the courts were “significant pieces of hard surface infrastructure” which “belong in the built environment”.

Flood risks were raised as a concern.

Ms Comino said the area was put aside specifically for field sports in 1927.

In a response, councillor Toni Zeltzer stated a “paradigm shift” had occurred since, with women’s and girls’ sports being encouraged.

“So the boys get a field and the girls get hard infrastructure, I think that’s a bit unfair,” Cr Zeltzer began

“Will you acknowledge in those times women were not encouraged to play sport – nowadays we like to see our women in sport.”

Lough Park after a deluge in December 2024. Picture: Save Lough Park

Ms Comino pointed out field sports were played by girls as well, with soccer’s popularity on par with netball.

“Lots of girls play field sport too so I’m not being sexist: hockey AFL, all the football codes – they are all played on fields.

“Once you let go of those fields you can’t recreate them elsewhere.”

Speaking for another residents’ group, Friends of Lough Park, Jeffrey Tasker said significant noise and light concerns had been overlooked with the proposal.

Mr Tasker said the group’s own analysis predicted an “inherent” increase in noise between 7pm and 9pm on weeknights.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a press conference in Lough Park in 2016.

Mr Tasker said the court’s hard surface would worsen with most intrusive noises of “shouting and whistles”.

In response, Cr Zeltzer ended a line of questioning, asking if he had any daughters before remarking “wouldn’t it be nice to be able to play just down the road?”

Councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis asked Anthony MacGibbon, who spoke about increased traffic woes, if he accepted the situation was a “balancing act”.

“In a balancing act, do you accept it necessary we provide facilities for girls, mindful that girls needs are a lot less than the rugby fields the boys need?”

Lastly, former councillor Nicola Grieve spoke on behalf of the Rose Bay Community Garden, stating girls’ sports were “sadly lacking” infrastructure.

“We fully support the motion and believe girls need support, it’s hard for them to access the mixed courts up at Christison (Park in Woollahra), the boys take over there,” she said.

“There is such far greater infrastructure for boys in the municipality – the girls are sadly lacking – and when there is a shared space the girls are muscled out.”

Ms Grieve also stated “the beauty of netball” meant there was no bouncing balls, making it a much quieter sport.

Ms Comino later stated the action group “didn’t buy” into arguments pitting them against girls sport.

“We’re not anti-girls’ sport, we’re not saying ‘don’t build more courts’, we’re saying ‘this isn’t the right place’,” she said.

Ultimately Woollahra Council voted on Lough Park being an acceptable location for the courts, with the motion now proceeding to community consultation.

Originally published as Woollahra Council’s motion for netball courts sparks community ire