Hornsby residents and families and those in surrounding areas will be most disadvantaged because the Westleigh Park will provide much-needed recreational facilities for our Shire and the northern area of Sydney. Hornsby Shire Council identified a shortfall of sportsgrounds and general recreational facilities, and with an increasing population, a rise in participation in outdoor recreation, and much more interest in female participation in sports such as cricket, football and AFL, our grassroots sporting organisations and communities will be the ones to miss out.

For decades Hornsby Shire Council has been attempting to address the documented need for additional active open space and recreational facilities for the current and future population of the Shire. Successive studies dating back to the early 2000s have demonstrated an expressed need to increase the level of sportsground provision in Hornsby Shire and have detailed the various constraints to increasing that provision.

Council’s Sportsground Strategy (October 2018) (PDF 15.8MB) estimated a potential gap between future demand (by 2026) and current supply at 40% and proposed that Council should specifically develop new sports facilities at Westleigh Park to help address this demand.  With no change to the current supply, by 2026 there would be a shortfall of sportsground playing surface in the Hornsby Shire Council area of approximately 19.9 Ha. A further review in 2023 by the North Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) indicated that by 2036 there will be a shortfall of 223 Ha in the northern region and 61 Ha for Hornsby Shire. This is the most meaningful opportunity to address part of that shortfall in the entire northern Sydney region.

The proposed development of Westleigh Park is a direct response to the shortfall and Council had the foresight to purchase the land in 2016 for the provision of additional sportsgrounds.

The previous state government gave $90 million ($50 million for Hornsby Park and $40 million for Westleigh Park) to Hornsby Shire Council as compensation for the loss of a large part of the southern territory of the Shire to the City of Parramatta during the council amalgamations.

An independent financial assessment has confirmed that losing these suburbs, in which Council had invested significantly, has resulted in a net loss of $10 million annually for Council. Further information can be found at https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/council/noticeboard/news/pre-2022/Council-sets-record-straight-on-amalgamation-money

The previous state government specified the funds were to be used to develop the Westleigh and Hornsby Park projects to provide much-needed recreational facilities for the local community.

The original timelines provided to Council were arbitrary and unrealistic given the projects are of such large scale and complexity. Council liaised regularly with the Office of Local Government regarding a suitable timeframe for the delivery of a project of this nature and provided regular updates on progress and achievement of milestones. The timelines were impacted by COVID-19 and the subsequent widespread development and construction industry delays. Council was also required to adhere to due process as it would any other development of this magnitude which can be protracted and takes time. Council has been very careful in its use of funds to maximise the funding available to deliver the facilities for our community.

The state government was regularly updated about progress on this project and and we have followed due diligence in meeting all our agreed milestones. Regular updates have been provided through six monthly reporting, quarterly funding reporting, weekly email updates, as required by the grant agreement. When first receiving the grant Council indicated that the development of the site would extend beyond the state govt nominated period.

The Plan of Management (PDF 17MB) and Master Plan (PDF 18MB) have been adopted, and a DA lodged. The DA is due to be determined in the next few months with construction targeted to commence before the years (2024) end. Detailed design has been completed and tender documents are currently being developed to enable a quick transition to construction following development consent.

The Office of Local Government have requested that Council pay back approximately $36 million by 31 July 2024. Council is currently considering its options.

To continue to meet community expectations for sporting facilities on this site, and its ongoing commitment to investments to date, Council would seek to identify other external funding sources as the cost of the project exceeds Council's ability to fund internally. It would also need to consider other options including delaying or changing the scope and nature of development.

Council will continue to correspond with the Office of Local Government to investigate opportunities for this vital project and the needs of our community.

It is the community that stands to lose out because of this decision. Community members and sports associations can have their voices heard by writing to the Premier for New South Wales, the Minister for Sport, the Minister for Local Government, the Minister for Planning and their local member explaining how they will be impacted by this decision. Similarly writing to the federal member for Bennelong, state member for Parramatta Council, registering their need with their own club and state governing bodies.

The grant funds have been held in a secure account dedicated to the project.

No.

Council believes the $50 million grant funding provided for Hornsby Park is not affected. The State Government have indicated that a request for an extension to the Hornsby Park grant has been approved.

• A lack of space / facility access will lead to increasing numbers of participants being turned away from sport
• Increasing physical inactivity, sedentary leisure behaviour and related health and disease impacts for the local community
• Reducing benefits brought about by participation in sport and physical activity including reduced social cohesion, and life skills.
• With lower participation in sports from reduced access to facilities, there is also a correlation with declining health and overall increase in health cost
• Existing sportsgrounds are used more intensively, thereby generating conflict between passive and active users
• Dedicated sports participants will be required to travel further afield for opportunities to access suitable facilities
• Generational inequity – the previous population had ready access to sportsgrounds for sport, whilst the new generation and incoming populations lacks the same access
• Over time, under the current population and participation growth trajectory, the gap between sports facility demand and supply, will continue to grow.