24/07/2026
In a move that will have serious consequences for Ku-ring-gai Council’s ability to maintain our infrastructure and fund other projects, a group of councillors have called an urgent meeting for next Wednesday 29th to increase the budget for Norman Griffith oval synthetic development to over $20.2 million with the possibility of further increases.
· This is a 650% blowout from its original budget of $3.1 million and comes just a week after residents have received a 29% rate rise.
· In a major turnaround from a decision made just over 10 weeks ago, Councillor Martin Smith, Jeff Pettitt and Sam Ngai have decided they can’t wait 6 days for independent expert advice on the best way forward for the upgrade of Norman Griffith oval.
· Council commissioned NSW Public Works to cost alternative options for the synthetic project after it was revealed that after $12.2 million and 3 years of construction, they have to abort work and start again with a new design. (pp2,172). The flood detention system they built from aggregate is ‘unfit for purpose’ and council decided they needed to replace it with an expensive new concrete detention system to keep the synthetic oval flood free.
One would think this would be a good time to assess the right road ahead given the huge expense and financial exposure the project entails. It is already Australia’s most expensive soccer pitch.
· In another backflip, they also propose to cancel the planned consultation they also voted for 10 weeks ago which they said was needed because:
“ spending $20.2 million is far in excess of council’s initial budget for the Norman Griffith’s field upgrade and that the community may have formed a different opinion on a synthetic upgrade versus a natural turf upgrade had they known the total potential project cost”.
· Added to their chopping board is a planned investigation into upgrading ovals around Ku-ring-gai as properly-engineered natural turf fields – these ovals have been built at Lane Cove and Mosman Councils - they are cheaper and don’t have to be closed at the sight of rain! Watch the video ex Mosman Councillor and former Ku-ring-gai resident David Cook to hear how well they are working here at 1.20.
· This is a stunning about-turn especially from Councillor Jeff Pettitt who only last month voted for the project to be paused and reassessed.
· This is also no longer a debate about synthetic versus natural grass fields. This is about how Ku-ring-gai’s money should be spent and how decisions are made around spending it.
· Councillors are behaving as if we have a bottomless pit of revenue for a synthetic pitch and ignore the fact that financial decisions on the Norman Griffith project have serious ramifications for other projects.
· For example, the same group of councillors (Smith, Pettitt, Ward, Devlin, Ngai, Wheatley) have also just walked away from saving Marian St Theatre for $100,000 on the basis of needing to uphold ‘fiscal responsibility’ and because of “multiple competing capital priorities’! Ku-ring-gai doesn’t have a performing art space and in direct contrast to the Norman Griffith funding, this money was in the budget!
What can you do? YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
1. Write to council at [email protected] and ask they why they won’t wait for the review and don’t want to hear from the community about how our money should be spent.
2. Speak Up! Come to the public forum on Norman Griffiths expenditure at 6pm on 29 July 2026 register here
The proposed motion to go ahead without waiting for the independent Public Works report and keep pouring money into the synthetic oval at a cost of over $20.2 million can be found here.
Information about the Norman Griffith oval development found here. Join Norman Griffith for All page for regular updates.
Suggested email points to make.
Ø Ask Councilors why they aren’t letting the process should run its proper course and wait for the expert report to at least examine viable alternatives first before pouring more money into the project.
Ø Ask them what happens when the costs keep escalating!
Ø How is spending over 20 million on one single suburban oval good value for money? Multiple ovals could be upgraded for this price.
Ø If you or your kids play/ed soccer let them know that this is not about being anti sport, this is about making decisions on independent advice.
Ø Ku-ring-gai residents have never been asked whether they prefer synthetic versus natural option at the oval – council’s last survey basically asked residents ‘would you like the current bog hole or would you prefer synthetic!’
Ø If you feel strongly about this tell councillors you will not vote for them in the next election if they go ahead with this expenditure for a project that is yet to be costed and before alternatives can be considered.
Questions and Answers
Haven’t they examined alternatives to synthetic before?
· Council previously investigated alternatives based on building on their now aborted previous design (aggregate flood detention system) but have not examined the difference in price between synthetic and natural turf now they need a new concrete detention tank to flood-proof their synthetic option.
· It is highly likely a best practice natural turf design will be quicker to build and less expensive because it won’t require a massive flood detention system.
Shouldn’t they stop delays and just get on with the job?
· Council have had to stop the project because the work they have done so far has been declared ‘unfit for use’.
· Given the major expense to keep going with synthetic, other options should be investigated that could be faster to complete and give the soccer club the hours they need while not shutting off the oval to passive recreation and with the environmental risk involved with the synthetic option.
