Courts ready for action

Hard courts a winner

Construction of the new hard surfaced courts at Avalon Beach Reserve is finished and the courts are ready for action.

The two courts will be used for netball, basketball and pickleball. Night matches and training will be possible within weeks once lighting is installed.

Avalon Beach Reserve is now a hub for sports with the hard courts complementing the new grass netball court, half basketball court and the existing skate park.

This facility was made possible with $572,000 worth of grants from the NSW Government.

Approved concept design open in new window

Project history

The Northern Beaches Sportsground Strategy, adopted in 2017, identified a critical shortfall in sportsfields on the Northern Beaches and specifically identified the need for additional hardcourts to service the needs of netball users in the northern end of the Pittwater Ward.

Council proposed to address the shortage of sportsfields by installing hardcourts at Avalon Beach Reserve; on the grass area between Barrenjoey Road, the dunes in Avalon Beach Reserve and the fenced off-leash dog area to the north.

To facilitate the construction of these courts the Local Government Act 1993 required Council to amend the Ocean Beaches generic Plan of Management to re-categorise the land from Park to Sportsground.

Community Engagement was completed in June and July 2019 and included a Public Hearing and an onsite drop-in session

View the engagement history below.

Plan of Management amendments adopted

At a meeting on Tuesday 24 September, Council resolved to -

  • re-categorise the land in figure 14-4 of the draft Ocean Beaches Plan of Management – Avalon Beach from Park and General Community Use to Sportsground
  • adopt the proposed amendments to the Ocean Beaches Plan of Management and the amended Concept Plan.

View Council Report (Item 13.5)
View final Concept Plan
View Council Minutes

Public Hearing Report available

Parkland Planners have completed their Public Hearing Report for the proposed recategorisation of community land at Avalon Beach Reserve.

The report recommends that the recategorisation from Park and General Community Use to Sportsground be adopted.

View Recategorisation of Community Land Public Hearing Report - 9 September 2019

All the comments from the exhibition period are being reviewed and the outcomes of community engagement will be reported to Council in September.

Draft amendments on exhibition

We're proposing to amend the Ocean Beaches Plan of Management to facilitate the installation of netball courts at Avalon Beach Reserve.

At a meeting on 28 May 2019, Council resolved to place the draft amendments to the Ocean Beaches Plan of Management (Avalon Beach chapter) and concept plans on exhibition to facilitate the installation of netball courts at Avalon Beach Reserve, Avalon Beach.

Key features of the concept plan include:

  • four hardcourt netball courts with a green surface
  • a half-court basketball court
  • a bridge across Careel Creek to connect the two sets of courts
  • lighting to Australian Standards.

Four ways to have your say:

  1. Attend a Public Hearing - Avalon Recreation Centre, Wednesday 26 June, 6.30-7.30pm.
  2. Drop-in eastern side of Careel Creek, near skatepark - Saturday 20 July, 12-2pm.
  3. Complete the submission form - closed.
  4. Write to us marked 'Ocean Beaches Plan of Management' Northern Beaches Council PO Box 82, Manly NSW 1655.

Submissions closed Sunday 11 August 2019.