A new Seaforth Oval Reserve Plan of Management was required to:

• meet Council's obligations under the Crown Land Management Act 2016
• enable a new intermediate to advanced level bike park to be built on Crown land
• incorporate the additional Crown land to the south of Seaforth Oval Reserve into the Plan of Management
• review and update commitments regarding the current and future use of the oval and its management, in consultation with the community to ensure that the site and facilities continue to meet the needs of users.

In response to feedback received about the lack of parking and traffic congestion at busy times at the Reserve it was proposed in the draft Plan of Management to prepare a Traffic Management Plan.

The development of this plan included a review of current parking and road infrastructure, use patterns, consultation and the identification of opportunities to improve parking and road infrastructure, capacity and functionality.

The outcomes along with the detailed design of the bike park will inform future upgrades of the roads and carparks at the Reserve. Any upgrade to roads and car parks is subject to the availability of funding and obtaining Council approval along with any other relevant environmental, planning and other approval.

The bike park will be designed to minimise impact on the Reserve’s overall parking capacity (both the upper and lower car parks).

Crown land is owned and managed by the NSW Government.

42% of all land in NSW is Crown land and may include parks, reserves, sportsfields, roads, cemeteries, pastoral leases and other land uses. In NSW Crown land is managed by the NSW Department of Industry.

The Minister responsible for Crown land can appoint Council as the Crown land manager for a Crown land reserve. Council is then responsible for its care, control and management. The land must be managed in accordance with the Crown Land Management Act 2016 and the Local Government Act 1993.

Seaforth Oval Reserve is Crown land and Council is the Crown land manager.

The location of the proposed Seaforth Bike Park was confirmed through adoption of the Let’s Play! Northern Beaches Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Strategy and Action Plan 2022 (see Document Library).

Council is committed to better meeting the needs of bike riders on the Northern Beaches and providing opportunities for healthy active lifestyles. Council has been listening to riders and has taken on board their feedback.

Following extensive consultation with riders a need was identified for an intermediate to advanced level bike park in the southern area of the Northern Beaches. This was confirmed through Council Resolution (Resolution 285/20, 27 October 2020, Item 13.15) that Council:

‘… Seek suitable sites for a new bike park in the local area in consultation with riders …’

In response a review of potential sites was undertaken which included consideration of space availability, permissibility, site suitability, access and connectivity, quality of and access to amenities, consistency with existing uses and potential impacts including on neighbouring residences and the environment.

Seaforth Oval Reserve and the adjoining Crown land was identified as the preferred location. The southern area of Seaforth Oval Reserve includes an informal carpark and a cleared area used for occasional storage of materials. The footprint and detailed design of the bike park has not been finalised but will potentially include the cleared area and some of the informal carpark. See site plan in the Document Library for further detail.

The proposed intermediate to advanced level style bike park will complement the nearby junior level Grove Bike Park.

Detailed design of the bike park will be undertaken in consultation with riders with works proposed to commence in 2025-26.

The bike park is identified in Council's Delivery Program 2024-28. Detailed design and works are proposed to commence in 2025-26 and will be funded from Development Contributions.

An environmental review has been completed for the proposed bike park. The location and design considers minimising any impact on the surrounding bushland. The outcomes of the review found that the overall likely impact is not significant.

However, depending on what further works are proposed in the Seaforth Oval Reserve Plan of Management, additional environmental reviews may be required and control measures identified.

Council will continue to conduct bushland management activities.

There is Duffys Forest EEC present at Seaforth Oval Reserve and the adjoining Crown land. There is no impact on EEC as part of this project.

A Bushland Management Plan for the Duffys Forest Endangered Ecological Community (the Plan) around Seaforth Oval Reserve Carpark was prepared in 2007. The Plan assists with the long-term management of the Duffys Forest and responds to proposed redevelopment of the access road and carpark for Seaforth Oval Reserve (which has now been completed).

Areas of Duffys Forest EEC are fenced off to minimise disturbance and many of the actions in the Plan have been completed. The new Seaforth Oval Reserve PoM will continue to implement ongoing actions for the management of the Duffys Forest EEC.