We're planning an exciting new 8 court multi sport facility at 180 River Road, Lane Cove. Nearly 10 years in the making, this new facility will provide much needed sporting space for our community.
Watch the fly-through of the proposed space.
March 2023
A report recommending to appoint a contractor for stage one and two of the works will be discussed at council on 23 March.
Read the report in the agenda for the 23 March meeting.
November 2022
The development application (DA147/2022) was submitted and is open for your viewing and comments until 23 January 2023 (originally 13 January but has been extended). If you have questions in relation to the development application you can contact Council's Manager - Development Assessment, Rajiv Shankar by email rshankar@lanecove.nsw.gov.au or phone 9911-3527.
Council has been advised that it was successful in obtaining a $5 million grant for the project under the NSW Government Multi Sport Community Facility grants program. As previously reported to Council, this grant program requires construction to commence by 1 July 2023 and be completed by December 2025. The project timetable outlined above provides a pathway for this to occur, with an estimated construction time of 18 months commencing in June 2023.
Also, as part of the funding strategy for the project, Council has been successful in obtaining approval for a T-Corp $10M, 10 Year fixed rate loan, with the actual rate aligned to the draw down date. It is anticipated the rate will be circa 4.6% fixed. Council made a further application under the NSW Government Low-Cost Loan Initiative and was successful in obtaining a grant of an additional $599,701, for an increased interest rate subsidy, with the total subsidy now up to $1,414,040. This returns Council’s interest rate subsidy to 50% of the 10 Year fixed rate, circa net 2.3%.
Council’s Sport and Recreation Precinct Advisory Committee met on and discussed the following options during the construction period:-
1. Retain a fully operational Golf course with a modified 9 hole layout;
2. Retain a limited operation Golf course with a less than 9 hole layout; and
3. Not operate a golf course, maintain the general course condition to minimise reactivation costs post construction and allow general community access in the interim.
The construction program will see the course impacted for 18 months and therefore all three options are under consideration. The Committee will meet again early in 2023 to consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of each option. A key issue will be provision of suitable temporary parking should Options 1 and 2 be pursued. The Golf Club representatives on the Committee will consider this in developing a temporary alternate golf course layout concept for discussion.
27 October 2022
At the Council meeting, it was resolved to lodge a development application for the new facility (option 2). Council also resolved to run a targeted community workshop for user groups. This will be conducted after the development application is lodged during the detailed design phase. The draft drawing tabled at the meeting is subject to change for the purposes of development application lodgement.
29 September 2022
Council resolved to exhibit Option 2 (8 court multi-sport facility) for 14 days and receive community feedback on the concept plan. The sketch design plans provide indicative areas per space noting that final areas are subject to design development.
View 'option 2' concept plan here and email your comments or questions to service@lanecove.nsw.gov.au with the subject 'sport and recreation precinct' before 14 October.
17 September 2022
Community Workshop Feedback: Sport and Recreation Precinct Revised Concept Design
Around 110 people came along to share their ideas on the concept design options for this facility on the 17 September. Overall, we were pleased to see a cross section of our community and to have representatives from sporting clubs, residents and community groups. Many of you put forward questions about how the golf club would adapt and leverage the new facility, what features would be included and how to design specific features into to the new facility.
We'll now carefully analyse all of your feedback and it will be presented in a report at the 29 September meeting. The report will be available for public viewing from Friday 23 September 2022. View the Council Agenda and Meeting Minutes.
Community Workshop: Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Precinct Revised Concept Design
Saturday 17 September, 2:30pm – 4:00pm, Lane Cove Golf Clubhouse, 180 River Road, Lane Cove
Council at its August Meeting determined to progress the design and construction of a Sports and Recreation Facility of a maximum of 8 courts (4 indoor and 4 multi-purpose outdoor) at 180 River Road, Lane Cove.
Previous designs at the site related to a 9 court facility, and so Council is conducting a workshop to provide the opportunity for community input into the concept design (work in progress) for an 8 court facility (4 indoor and 4 outdoor courts).
The workshop will be conducted in the Lane Cove Golf Clubhouse, between 2:30pm and 4:00pm on Saturday 17 September 2022.
AJ+C Architects, designers of the Sport and Recreation Precinct will present draft concept designs for an 8 Court facility and there will be opportunities for participants to ask questions and provide feedback in relation to the draft designs. The community feedback will be considered in the resolution of the concept design which will be considered by Council at its meeting of Thursday 29 September 2022.
For further information on this project, please continue to view the information on this page.
September Update
The minutes from the Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 29 August are now available to view online.
25 August
An Extraordinary Council Meeting in relation to the Sport and Recreation Facility will be held on Monday 29 August at 7:00pm. The Agenda is now available to view online.
August Update
The Agenda and Minutes for the 18 August Council Meeting are now available to view on Council's website.
In summary, to finalise the preferred location this report considers a shortlist of locations for the facility post the 19 May 2022 Council report which considered all alternative locations, being:-
Option 1: Revised Facility with a new entrance at River Rd site with 5 Indoor / 4 Outdoor Courts
Option 2: Revised Facility with a new entrance at River Rd site with 4 Indoor / 4 Outdoor Courts
Option 3a: Acquire property in Lane Cove West Business Park and adapt to 4 Indoor Courts
Option 3b: At River Rd site, rebuild the existing outdoor courts, converting them to 4 multi-courts and construct a new Golf Club House.
Option 3c: Combine 3a. + 3b.
The report also includes the outcome of the review of the previous Development Application at the Golf Course,180 River Road site which includes revised entry arrangements, removal of the arrival plaza, and subsequent reduction in the outdoor court footprint, and further details of the Environmentally Sustainable Development options for the project. Finally, the report outlines the next steps if Council chooses to progress the project.
The report recommends that Council determine whether or not to proceed with the project and the preferred option if the project is to proceed.
View the Council Agenda for a copy of the full report
Previous Update
As per the report to the 21 March 2022 Council Meeting, the next activity in the process is the outcome report to Council which is due to the August Council meeting.
May Update
At the Council meeting on Thursday 19 May, Council considered a status report on the Sport and Recreation Facility alternate locations and business case. View the minutes of the Council meeting online.
April Update
Have Your Say on the Sport & Recreation Precinct Options
Consultation is now closed. The survey ran from Wednesday 13 April to 12noon Friday 6 May 2022.
Council remains focused on delivering much needed multi-court sports facilities in the Lane Cove LGA to meet increasing demand for sports such as netball, basketball and tennis. Council is currently pursuing the following three options for the provision of courts:
1. Redevelopment of the Lane Cove Golf Club
2. Identifying alternate sites, primarily in the Lane Cove West Business Park
3. Joint venture with Willoughby Council that includes their proposed Gore Hill development
The community is being asked to provide their feedback on the current options and are encouraged to join a community workshop related to the Business Case for the Sport and Recreation Facility.
Prior to completing the survey and/or attending the workshop it is recommended to review the current background information:
Community Workshop
Tuesday 3 May, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Terrace Function Room, Lane Cove Community Hub, 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove
Council held a Community Workshop for a presentation of the Lane Sport and Recreation Precinct Business case by Simon Haire of Xypher Sport and Leisure. Maria Nordstrom (CEO Basketball NSW) and Belinda Bernstein (President Northern Suburbs Netball Association) will also be in attendance to shine a light on their respective sports and the challenges they face in terms of court supply, and junior development.
Workshop Presentations included:-
Extraordinary Council Meeting - Monday 28 February
Council held an Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 28 February in regards to Notice of Motion - Sydney North Planning Panel Determination for DA 64/2021.
At the meeting, it was resolved that Council:
Advises the Sydney North Planning Panel that it formally withdraws DA 64/2021 for the Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Facility;
Confirms that the two workshops from resolution 37/2022 will proceed as planned;
Reaffirms Council's intent to consider all available options to meet the demand for indoor sporting facilities in the Lane Cove area; and
In relation to point three (3), receive an updated project timeline at the March Council meeting.
The minutes from the Extraordinary Meeting are now available to
view online.
February 2022 Update
February Council Meeting
Council considered a report "Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Precinct - NSW Government Funding Opportunity" at its meeting of 21 February 2022, resolved that Council:-
1.
| Receive and note the report;
|
2.
| Note that the Sydney North Planning Panel has refused Council’s request to defer the hearing of DA 64/2021 and that the hearing will proceed on 2nd March 2022;
|
3.
| Restates its resolution of 24 January 2022 that Council confirms its commitment to consider other options for the indoor sport and recreation facility, and acknowledges that an approved Development Application will not prevent Council from further consulting with the community and considering all possible options. In so doing:-
a. That Council organise an open community workshop on sport and recreation requirements in Lane Cove with attendance open to residents of other LGAs; and
b. That promotion of the workshop will be designed to ensure the widest possible range of attendees. |
4.
| Schedule a working session with Councillors on the details behind the current Business case for the project (with clarification of the source AT-1 or the Xypher Report). And following the internal working session, that Council conducts a public forum, with the current Business Case presented, and a Question and Answer session;
|
5.
| If Council decides to proceed with the Detailed Design phase of the current design proposal, undertake the following actions:-
a. Engage the Sustainable Design Consultant to set Green Star or equivalent goals for the current building design;
b. Undertake a new Traffic Report which accounts for the increase in traffic to River Road with the three major proposed new developments in that precinct and in line with the Business Case modelling user numbers;
c. Arrange a review of the current scheme by the Lane Cove Design Review Panel, including the siting and review of the significant trees; and
d. Update the Building Cost Report and the Business case in preparation for re-release following the completion of points (a) to (c) above. |
6.
| Not seek funding grants at this stage in the process.
|
Sydney North Planning Panel determination of Development Application
The Sydney North Planning Panel has announced its public determination meeting for the Sport and Recreation Facility will be held at 4:00pm on Wednesday 2 March 2022.
The Panel's Notice includes the following information:
The meeting is to be held via public teleconference
due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) precautions as a measure to
ensure the health and safety of the community.
Relevant documents are available on the Planning Panels
website https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planning-panel/sports-and-recreation-facility
To register to speak or to listen to this meeting, please contact
the Planning Panels Secretariat before 4pm on Monday, 28
February 2022 on 02 8217 2060 or email
enquiry@planningpanels.nsw.gov.au. You will be provided the
phone number and code to enable you to join the public
teleconference once registered.
Any person may listen the meeting to the public
teleconference. The panel is required to make an audio
record of the meeting and make the recording publicly
available on the Planning Panels website. You should be aware
that this may include your personal information if you are
presenting to the panel.
For more information: (02) 8217 2060
www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planningpanel
January 2022 Update
The minutes from Council's Extraordinary Meeting on Monday 24 January are now available to view online.
At the meeting it was resolved to:
Request that the General Manager contacts the Sydney North Planning Panel and requests that they delay determination on DA 64/2021 for the indoor sport and recreation facility; noting that Council is not formally withdrawing the Development Application; an
In the event that the Sydney North Planning Panel is unable or unwilling to delay determination on the Development Application, that Council confirms its commitment to consider other options for the indoor sport and recreation facility, and acknowledges that an approved Development Application will not prevent Council from further consulting with the community and considering all options
Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Facility
The next stage of the new Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Facility is now rolling with the concept design finalised ahead of its review by the Sydney North Planning Panel.
The Sydney North Planning Panel recently deferred the public determination from 7 December 2021 and has requested further information in relation to SEPP 55.
Visit the Sydney North Planning Panel website for the latest information.
i
You can watch the video flyover to see how the Sport and Recreation Facility will accommodate:
- 5 indoor multi-sport courts
- 4 outdoor multi-courts/tennis courts
- Gymnasium
- 3 flexible program rooms
- Separate meeting rooms
- Golf and/or tennis pro shop
- Presentation stage and reception
- A food and beverage offering
- Multiple indoor and outdoor change room facilities and toilets; and
- Large carpark for participants and visitors.
The final version of the Sport and Recreation Facility brings to life close to 10 years of concept planning, incorporating input and feedback from community consultation and Council workshops, qualified design consultants, leading industry specialists and operators as well as local sporting and community groups.
The design reflects three phases of concept development and input which began with a scope brief developed in consultation with the Recreation Precinct Liaison Committee. Following this, in 2018 an Expressions of Interest (EOI) to potential operators took place and in 2020 Council asked for the community's feedback on the concepts that were developed from submissions received during the EOI response phase. The feedback from the community consultation and further stakeholder engagement led to the final design being refined in March/April 2021.
As part of the Development Application process, the relevant design and planning documents were on public exhibition until 30 June 2021 (this DA exhibition period was twice as long as a standard exhibition). The application will be assessed by an independent consultant town planner who will prepare a report on the application for consideration and determination by the Sydney North Planning Panel.
Council can confirm that the new facility is being built on the existing car park and tennis courts with two of the new outdoor multi-courts extending onto the first tee of the golf course. The Community Panel recently shared their community vision for the remaining outdoor space on the site which is in excess of 80,000 square metres. Council informed the Panel at their first session that the zoning of the site must stay – it must remain open space and likewise the bushland area has to be retained as is. You can find out more about the Panel process online. The Panel's vision is being reported to the July Council meeting.
As part of the Development Application Council has identified that 156 trees will be planted following the removal of 80 trees on-site.
The preparation of a Development Application represents a significant milestone for Council and the community as the planning determination will underpin the future of the Sport and Recreation Facility within Lane Cove.
Council plays an important role in providing community-based sport and leisure opportunities within the local government area. Council's priority is to create opportunities that support increased participation, social inclusion and interaction while promoting health and wellness that benefits the broader community.
The proposed facility will provide people with access to a range of health, fitness and leisure opportunities that will further support the community's wellbeing. Council has identified a number of ways in which the facility helps to contribute to its vision for Lane Cove to be a healthy and active community, including:
- Delivering a fit-for-purpose integrated indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facility for the community, now and for the future
- Providing the wider community with more opportunities to participate in sport and active recreation, with improved health outcomes, through a range of contemporary fitness and wellbeing activities including exercise for seniors; the health conscious; students and social groups; as well as programmed competitive and social activities within a vibrant and dynamic community hub.
- Utilising universal design principles to overcoming the constraints of physical accessibility so that the entire facility is usable by all people to the greatest extent possible;
- Supporting significant economic benefits of:
- job creation, through the project construction phase and subsequent Centre operation;
- retention of local income (expenditure associated with sporting activities within the LGA); and
- attraction of additional regional income (generated by new and additional events, visitor spend and increased community usage);
- Adopting design principles linked to industry best practice and trends, to include commercial elements within the Centre offsetting operational costs;
- Providing both a competitive and training base to attract elite teams and individuals, including supporting associated program space;
- Providing a family-friendly environment to promote, attract and retain junior participation and increase opportunities for sport (generally) and talent development pathways.
- Providing a diverse range of contemporary activities which attract a larger proportion of the community as an enabler to increased social engagement;
- Providing a long-term, inter-generational legacy for sports and community recreation for the local area and broader region.
- Providing opportunities to improve visitation to the golf course
- Addressing strategic aims of Lane Cove Council, linked to identified community aspirations and community engagement initiatives.
Council sees the Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Precinct as aligning with Council's Strategic Plan and its vision for 2035: "Lane Cove will have a healthy and active community. Organised sport will continue to play an important role, along with new opportunities for leisure and for lifelong learning. Lane Cove will make the most of its natural environment and open space in encouraging outdoor activity and improved health and wellbeing."
The community is reminded that the Sport and Recreation Precinct is proposed for the curtilage of the Lane Cove Golf Course. The future use of the outdoor open space at Lane Cove Golf Course is being considered separately as part of Council's current Community Panel process. Find out more.
