A proposal to upgrade grass fields into hard-surfaced netball courts at Lough Park in Double Bay has divided the local community.
Lough Park’s History and Current Use
Lough Playing Fields in Double Bay is a historic park catering to sports such as netball, softball, cricket, and rugby and soccer training. It is also a popular site for walking and jogging. The site was once part of the Cooper family’s Point Piper Estate before being set aside for sporting activities in 1927.
Currently, the facilities include a grassed netball court and two junior synthetic cricket pitches, with dog access permitted under specific conditions.
Proposal Details and Concerns
Woollahra Council’s $690,000 proposal involves upgrading the existing grass netball fields at Lough Park into acrylic and concrete courts. The proposal includes installing four floodlights, each 10 metres tall, to allow the courts to be used beyond daylight hours and throughout winter.
Planning documents highlight that the development would address unmet demand for informal recreation and training. However, several concerns have been raised, including the impact of hard surface infrastructure, potential increases in weeknight noise from whistles and bouncing balls, intrusive lighting, flood risks, and traffic congestion.
The courts would be available for community use but could also be booked commercially by private companies, leading to further concerns about increased usage and reduced passive space.
Comparison and Alternatives: Existing Infrastructure
Opponents argue that there are already over 72 courts available in or near Woollahra, with more planned. Save Lough Park, one of the action groups, stresses that additional courts should not come at the cost of one of the eastern suburbs’ remaining passive green spaces.
Advocates for field sports also point out that girls increasingly participate in field-based activities such as soccer, AFL, and hockey, challenging the notion that hard courts are the only facilities needed to support female athletes.
Community Sentiment: Divided Views
Community groups such as Save Lough Park and Friends of Lough Park have voiced strong opposition, gathering over 800 petition signatures. They emphasise the environmental, noise, and traffic impacts of the proposal, while stating their support for girls’ sport in principle but questioning the chosen location.
Conversely, supporters, including some councillors and community members, argue that infrastructure for girls’ sports has historically lagged behind that of boys’ sports and that new facilities are essential to rectify the imbalance.
Next Steps for the Proposal
Woollahra Council has voted to move the Lough Park proposal forward to community consultation. A meeting is scheduled for 28 April, offering the community an opportunity to voice feedback before a final decision is made.
Published 27-Apr-2025