Westleigh Park is soon to be the site of a multipurpose, premiere sporting complex.
Hornsby Shire Council have announced their commitment to combatting the concerning lack of sporting facilities in the Northern Sydney area by developing Westleigh Park. Council believes that developing the site into six sporting grounds – five multipurpose fields and an athletics track – provides a unique opportunity to address the critical shortfall of sporting spaces.
‘We’re very proud of the diversity and vibrance of our community here in Hornsby Shire and one of the quickest ways for new residents to form meaningful connections at the heart of a community is by being part of sports teams. We need capacity for this to be available for everyone,’ says Hornsby Shire Mayor, Philip Ruddock AO. ‘We thank the State Government for their commitment to our Westleigh Park project and their recognition of its importance to the Northern Sydney region and our neighbours.’
Formerly owned by Sydney Water, Council purchased a portion of the 36-hectare site in 2016 to the tune of $21 million. In September 2023, Council lodged a Development Application for Westleigh Park, after adopting a draft Masterplan for the site in June of 2023. Estimated cost for the development is just shy of $83 million, with an approximation commencement date in late 2024. Development will be funded by both Hornsby Shire Council and the NSW State Government.
Hornsby Shire’s development of a future premiere sporting complex is a welcome announcement. The Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) recently released an 81-page report reviewing the supply and demand for sports facilities in the region. With an estimated population forecast of 730,000 by 2026, the report found that 180 hectares of space must be allocated to sporting facilities to meet demand.
As the Westleigh Park Development will span 10 hectares, the site will become the largest single contributor of sporting land in the NSROC region. This region consists of Hornsby Shire, Hunter’s Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Mosman, Ryde, North Sydney, and Willoughby.
The NSROC report details the implications of not meeting demand for sportsgrounds, including the increase of sedentary lifestyles, reduced social cohesion and connection, reduced opportunities for lower income households, increased travel requirements for sports, and declining health. Remaining on the current trajectory of sporting facility infrastructure, the report found that the gap between supply and demand will continue to grow.
In a recent address, Les Munn, President of Parks and Leisure Australia, mentioned that as the NSW State Government promises health, transport, and retail infrastructure to accommodate housing development, there is little concern for building sporting infrastructure for the growing population demand.
‘NSROC and the Mayors of the councils of Northern Sydney are calling on the State Government to recognise that with increased housing, public space and infrastructure for recreation and sport is more important than ever,’ says Carolyn Corrigan, President of NSROC and Mosman Council Mayor. ‘We need the continued support of the State and Federal Governments in providing these resources for our communities through support for existing projects and grant programs.’
