NSW MPs Jacqui Scruby and Michael Regan are working with Federal MP Sophie Scamps, to secure funding to fix Narrabeen synthetic athletics track.
The track was closed in December 2023 due to damage to the track surface making the track unsafe for use.
On 22 September 2017 then Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski announced a 12 month campaign to upgrade the dangerously worn Narrabeen Athletics track was nearing an end, with the NSW Office of Sport committing funding to repair and upgrade the facility by March 2018.
On Wednesday 13 December 2017, the NSW Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, issued a Media Release which included reference to the $1.2m allocated to the upgrade. By January 2018 work had commenced on the track upgrade.
Repairs required to the substrate had been completed by early February and on Friday 23 February 2018 the NSW Office of Sport Project Manager for the Narrabeen Track upgrade provided an update, stating the track surface being laid is a Polytan SPURTAN surface. The substrate had been repaired and the base asphalt layer had been laid on the Track.
By the second week of March 2018 installation of the solid layer of the new track was complete. On Friday 9 March, the contractors had started the final layer.
On April 18, 2018 the sporting groups were advised by the NSW Office of Sport that the upgrade to the Narrabeen Track had been completed.
However, the re-laid track didn't 'take' and bubbling on the surface occurred appeared in 2023.
Hundreds of local athletes young and old, as well as almost every school on the Northern Beaches, used to regularly use the Sydney Academy of Sport track which has been closed since December 2023, because ‘a lack of adhesion to the surface’ probably caused by water damage.
Synthetic track builders state there are several things to consider regarding the design and construction of running tracks and sports fields, but one aspect that will ensure track longevity and performance is addressing the need to evacuate water and keep debris off the track surface. Damage is caused by standing water or “ponding” wreaking havoc on an expensive track surface.
Add water run-off from the area around it that bring debris and pollutants, and the rate of surface deterioration increases. A track left with standing water over time causes major damage to the surface, delaminating the synthetic surface and asphalt base and severely shortening its usable life.
Those working in this field state proper drainage trenches are vital to stop the surface deteriorating.
The other side of that aspect is the damage the synthetic properties in these surfaces cause to the surrounding areas. When residents of this area, and others, hear a synthetic field has been installed with properties of 'rubber granules', or 'elastomer', alarm bells go off - especially if that deteriorating rubber field is beside a creek or waterway, or in this case, at the edge of and part of a water catchment that floods and fills that facility when it rains.
There have also been concerns contaminants used in installing synthetic tracks have been leaching into Narrabeen Lagoon.
The NSW Office of Sport stated in November 2024 it has investigated the cause of the damage and is investigating options to repair and reopen the track, including the costs, risks, benefits and feasibility of each option.
''The Office of Sport’s priority is providing the athletics community with a safe and accessible track that is not impacted by floodwater and inundation.'' the issued statement says
''A temporary six-lane 400 metre grass athletics track is available on Oval 1 for Little Athletics clubs and school sports carnivals, user groups and casual visitors. The designated throwing and jump areas adjacent to the closed athletics track remain open for use.''
Dr Sophie Scamps, the federal member for Mackellar and a former international athlete, has taken up the case of a fully functioning track being restored with the federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells.
Jacqui Scruby, the Member for Pittwater, and Michael Regan, the Member for Wakehurst, have together made representations directly to the NSW Premier requesting funding be prioritised to fix the track in the coming 2025/26 NSW State Budget, and are engaging with the current Minister for Sport, Stephen Kamper and the NSW Office of Sport. They supported the representations of Dr Sophie Scamps for federal funding for the track this week by together writing to Federal Sports Minister, Anika Wells.
The three MPs today issued a joint statement on Tuesday March 4 which reads:
“The synthetic track at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen was an important community facility, and widely used by local schools, and elite and recreational athletes from across the Northern Beaches and North Shore of Sydney. It has been unavailable for over a year now. There has been no public commitment of funds, project plan or timeline released for the remediation of the track. The lack of progress on remediation is frustrating for everyone.
The track is home to local athletics clubs and Manly Warringah Little Athletics. It allows athletes to train on competition standard facilities, vital for the development of elite athletes and future champions. Athletics is a popular sport that provides significant health benefits for young and old. It is also included in the NSW curriculum.
As the three MPs representing Narrabeen, and the surrounding communities, we have approached state and federal governments calling for them to recognise the importance of this sporting infrastructure by allocating funding in their upcoming budgets.”
Ms Scruby said, “We literally need to fast track this. The whole community, our athletes and school students are missing out. Since being elected, I’ve been hustling for funding and improved options for athletes training whilst the track is shut. In December a stakeholder consultation was held to define the design specifications to support a budget application. I’ve also worked to find better interim solutions, including discussions with private venues and council,"
Mr Regan said, ‘The community deserves certainty and confidence about when and how the track will be fixed. We know that an insurance claim for track damage from flooding has been settled, but a significant funding gap remains. This is an important public asset for our entire region. We urgently need a funding allocation, a project plan, and a timeline. With the 2028 and our own Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon, maintaining world class facilities must be a top priority.’
Dr Scamps highlighted the impact on the community and the sport.
“In the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 it is entirely unsatisfactory that a population of over 1 million people of the Northern Beaches and North Sydney do not have a synthetic track in their region to train on. We should be attracting the world’s best athletes to train at Narrabeen, instead all we have to offer them is a temporary grass track. Even more importantly, we are missing out on the opportunity to leverage Australia’s hosting of the Olympic games to inspire and support new athletes, young and old. As we face a growing public health crisis of obesity and overweight, we should be doing all we can to support people in enjoying and participating in physical activity,” she said.
The local representatives state the temporary grass track at the Sydney Academy of Sport site has been unusable because of overuse, weather conditions and maintenance for several weeks over the Summer, and planned Little Athletics meets had to be cancelled.
With this athletics season coming to a close, Athletics NSW, Manly Warringah Little Athletics and other clubs are looking for a definite timeline for the facility to be usable again to be made.
“We have almost given up hope on the track being refurbished in time for next season in October. Given the track was closed abruptly in December 2023, that's likely to stretch out to more than 2 years. This season has been very challenging, with the alternative grass track at the site being unusable for weeks on end and cancelled meets,” said Manly Warringah Athletics Centre President Andrew Jauncey.
“We need some clarity and concrete timeframes so that we can plan for the upcoming season and beyond. We accept that this is more a marathon, than a sprint, but we at least need a glimpse of the finish line in the long term. In the meantime, we’d like to secure a better interim solution for our kids.
“Future champions and Olympians start in Little Athletics, hundreds of kids enjoy participating. While athletics is growing in popularity across NSW, we are seeing a drop off in our numbers. Access to the synthetic track is sorely missed.”
The loss of Narrabeen is part of a statewide issue with athletics facilities identified by Athletics NSW, according to CEO Christian Renford. The body is currently conducting a review of facilities across the state.
“We know that there is a shortage of dedicated athletics facilities Sydney. The purpose of the facilities strategy is to quantify this ‘problem’.
“Narrabeen is the only synthetic track in Sydney north of the harbour. The next most northern track is on the Central Coast (180km round trip). I am aware that athletes have been travelling to Centennial Park (65km round trip) and Sydney Olympic Park (70km round trip) in the lead up to zone, region and state champs.”
"The closure of the Athletics Track at the Sydney Sports Academy, combined with potential disruptions at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, highlights a critical need for a long-term, data-driven facilities strategy. Athletics is the number one Olympic sport and one of the most inclusive and accessible activities in the world. To continue fostering participation at all levels, we need a firm commitment to maintaining and expanding our infrastructure across NSW.
“Thousands of athletes, from grassroots participants to elite performers, rely on these facilities – not just for training and competition, but for major school and community events. Without urgent investment, we risk stalling the incredible momentum our sport has gained in recent years.
“Athletics in NSW is experiencing unprecedented growth, from record-breaking performances on the world stage to the historic alignment of our junior and senior pathways with the NSW Athletics Partnership. But our facilities are struggling to keep pace. The loss of even a single major venue creates a ripple effect that disrupts competition schedules, impacts athlete development, and undermines the sport’s future.”
Federal Parliamentary sittings are listed for 25 to 27 March with March 25 allocated to the Budget announcements. It is expected the date for the 2025 election will be announced soon after, in early April, by Prime Minister Albanese.
The 2025 Australian federal election will be held on or before 17 May 2025 to elect members of the 48th Parliament of Australia. All seats of the House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the Senate will be contested.
Athletic Track facilities north of the bridge currently not closed include the Northern Suburbs Little Athletics Club, which is based alongside the Lane Cove River at Rotary Athletics Field, Mowbray Rd, West Chatswood (Lane Cove North). This is a grassed facility, and considered one of the best in Sydney.
The Sydney Japanese International School, located in Terrey Hills, has a six lane, 200m synthetic track. The track also has an extension for a 100m straight and has two long jump pits on the track's infield. Sports carnivals are held on the facility with multiple schools participating including the Sydney Japanese International School, the Italian bilingual school, The Alexander School, Gaulston College, and the German International School Sydney, which is also just up the hill.
The Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation 400-metre athletics track at Narrabeen was built in 1971. The original track was rubberised bitumen, before being converted to a Chevron surface. The track was last resurfaced in 2018, as outlined above, using a Polytan SPURTAN surface. There are 8 circular lanes and 10 straight.
The Narrabeen site started as a Fitness Centre in 1944, with one at Broken Bay and Mona Vale preceding it. The Academy is surrounded by creeks and natural bushlands and sits on the edge of Narrabeen Lagoon.
