Decision details

It is resolved that :

(A)      Council approve for public exhibition the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Strategy 2026, shown at Attachments A and B to the subject report, subject to the following amendments:

(i)         Volume 1 (page 9) - A foundational principle will be added to the Executive Summary around social wellness. This principle acknowledges that in our current context there is a need to enable genuine social connection between all members of our community and the role that recreational and open space facilities play in enabling this

(ii)        a concise standalone summary will be prepared to accompany the draft Strategy. The summary will clearly communicate the Strategy's key messages, findings and recommendations in a more accessible format, recognising that the full Strategy and supporting technical studies contain substantial detail

(iii)      Volume 1 (page 86) - ‘High capacity surfaces’ will be expanded to provide additional detail on the environmental impacts of synthetic turf, in particular heat and microplastic migration and the benefits of natural surfaces. The end-of-life opportunities for synthetic surfaces will be discussed in greater detail, including new technologies available in Australia for the recovery, processing and recycling of synthetic turf. Other high capacity options will be discussed including hybrid turf and combination turf

(iv)      Volume 1 (page 132) and Volume 2 (page 186) ‘Events’ will be updated to explain that the City supports a limited number of events and cultural activities while ensuring parks are protected from damage and that any access restrictions during restoration are minimised. Other events and festival organisers are encouraged to use to use civic spaces and streets for temporary events and place-based activations. To support additional events in parks, the City will explore events infrastructure such as hard stand where feasible and appropriate

(v)       Volume 1 (page 86) – Under State Government Guidance an additional dot point is added :

·               Best practice guidelines for sporting fields: A guide for climate-resilient playing surfaces in New South Wales

(vi)      insert the words “including international students” where the study currently refers to “students” in general, in recognition that Council will consider the open space and recreation needs of international students

(B)      Council note that the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Strategy 2026 will be placed on public exhibition for a minimum period of 4 months which will include broad consultation including with underrepresented groups

(C)      Council request the community consultation with the private sector is undertake not identify barriers and opportunities within the planning system that might result in more opportunities for sport and recreation activities

(D)      Council note that the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Strategy 2026, including any recommended changes, will be reported to Council for adoption following the exhibition period

(E)      authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to make minor editorial amendments for clarity or correction of drafting errors prior to exhibition of the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Strategy 2026.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

S127007.018