I reiterate my strong and long-held support for upgrading the County Road Reserve sports field in Belrose. The northern beaches is facing a significant and growing sports field shortage. It is being driven by increased participation, particularly in women's and over‑35s competitions, and a lack of adequate infrastructure to meet current and future demand. County Road Reserve is currently in poor condition and lacks basic infrastructure, meaning it cannot be used to its full potential. It is the home ground of Wakehurst Football Club, which is 2,000 players strong, but remains without essential amenities like toilets and change rooms. As a result, players, including women and children, are forced to change clothes in public areas and, in some instances, use nearby bushes due to the lack of restroom facilities. That makes the reserve unsuitable for hosting women's sporting matches.

With the rise in women's football, particularly following the incredible success of the Matildas on the world stage, the demand for safe, fit‑for‑purpose facilities has never been higher. Yet many female teams are still training and playing on substandard or overused fields, often without change facilities or adequate lighting. The upgrade of County Road is an excellent opportunity to help rectify that and make the sport more accessible. It is low‑hanging fruit for meaningfully addressing the sports field shortage on the northern beaches. That would be particularly significant for the growing number of football or soccer players on the northern beaches. The Manly Warringah Football Association has just under 20,000 players. Since I was elected as a member of this place, the lack of progress on the upgrade has been a source of real frustration for me.

Unfortunately, the planning department has been a tease on this important project for my community. In 2021 the New South Wales Government announced a $6 million upgrade to the 2.25-hectare County Road site through its Parks for People program. The plan aimed to revitalise the reserve into a contemporary, multipurpose community space, featuring a refurbished sports field, new amenities including change rooms and toilets, accessible play areas, a 40‑space car park, walking paths and lights. A detailed development application was prepared and exhibited. The community was consulted. However, in February 2023 the planning department unexpectedly announced that the County Road project was on hold indefinitely. That was a massive disappointment for the thousands of players who were set to benefit, as well as the Northern Beaches Council, which has long recognised the strategic importance of the upgrade and had committed some funds. I championed the project as Northern Beaches Mayor and will continue to fight for it in my role as member for Wakehurst.

At the time of the cancellation, Northern Beaches Council made a request to the planning department to transfer the land, which is currently Crown land, a portion of the previously allocated funding and the intellectual property for the County Road upgrade. Council was willing to take carriage of the project with a much lower cost option that would still massively increase the utility of the site. The department responded by saying, "As the project has been postponed, not cancelled, it would be premature to explore this proposal." It was a classic instance of "Computer says no." Since then, despite my consistent representations to progress the upgrade, we have heard crickets from the department.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope. In this week's 2025-26 budget, the Government announced the Better Open Spaces program, a funding stream intended to support the development and renewal of green open spaces across the State. I strongly urge the Government to recognise County Road Reserve as a prime candidate for that funding. I will encourage and work with the Northern Beaches Council and the local community to put forward the County Road Reserve. In closing, I thank the volunteers, parents and players who continue to advocate for the County Road Reserve upgrade and who understand just how transformative it would be. They are not asking for gold-plated facilities; they just want a level playing field, literally and figuratively. County Road Reserve is a shovel-ready opportunity. Let us not waste another season.

27 June 2025, 12:18.

Read the Hansard here