Extra Ordinary Meeting of Council - 18 May 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council pauses Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade after budget blows out to $20.2 million
  Major project review and spending pause after a series of budget escalations.
  The decision affects a prominent sports facility, potential field design, and a very large increase in council spending.
• Residents to be surveyed on Norman Griffiths Oval surface choice
  Council ordered a representative survey before committing further funds.
  Public consultation could shape whether the oval uses natural turf or synthetic turf and influence future recreational provision.
• Council seeks more oval capacity options amid sportsground funding debate
  Staff must estimate costs for upgrading two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf.
  This could shift future capital works and maintenance spending across the local sports network.

Decisions

• Release of reports to the public
  Council resolved that officers’ reports be released to the press and public, except for confidential attachments relating to the Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade report.
  Allows residents to see most of the meeting papers while protecting limited confidential material.
• Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade paused and reviewed
  Council paused the current project, received and noted the report, and required an updated cost comparison between best-practice natural turf and synthetic turf options, to be reported back by August 2026.
  Directly affects the future of a major sportsground upgrade and the type of playing surface residents may get.
• Community consultation and survey ordered
  Council noted it did not have a mandate to spend the additional funds without consultation and resolved to conduct a representative resident survey through an external agency, with findings due by October 2026.
  Residents will be asked for their views before any further money is committed.
• Budget and financial accountability measures
  Council acknowledged the project’s budget had risen sharply to $20.2 million, noted the sequence of budget revisions, and asked for estimated costs to update two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf to increase field capacity.
  Signals possible changes to sports infrastructure spending across multiple ovals, not just Norman Griffiths Oval.
• Supplementary information noted
  Council received and noted supplementary information, including late memoranda and formal responses to councillor questions, and confirmed those documents should be read with the published business paper.
  Provides updated context for the main decision on the oval project.
• OLG capital expenditure advice received
  Council received and noted advice from the NSW Office of Local Government about capital expenditure review requirements.
  May affect how future major project spending is assessed and approved.

Discussion

• Norman Griffiths Oval Upgrade - Project Update
  The project’s budget had escalated from an original estimate of $3.1 million in 2021 to $20.2 million by April 2026. Council debated alternative surface options, cost comparisons, and compliance with Office of Local Government capital expenditure review requirements.
  A major sporting facility project is under review, with possible impacts on local recreation, field availability, and council spending priorities.
• Resident survey on project preferences
  Council resolved to commission an external agency to run a representative, non opt-in survey about surface preferences for Norman Griffiths Oval and to provide high-level information on costs, benefits and risks.
  Residents may be consulted on the project’s direction before further commitments are made.
• Need for additional oval capacity and financial scrutiny
  Council also requested estimated costs for upgrading two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf and asked staff to recommend the most suitable sites.
  Could influence where future sporting capacity upgrades and maintenance funding are directed.

Impacts

• The Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade is paused pending further cost analysis and consultation.
• Residents may be surveyed on whether the oval should use natural turf or synthetic turf.
• Council spending on the project could increase substantially beyond the previous $12.4 million budget.
• Other ovals may be upgraded to absorb more sporting demand if natural turf is pursued elsewhere.

Places

• Norman Griffiths Oval (sportsground)
  Main project site for the upgrade review and budget decision.
• August 2026 council meeting (meeting date)
  Deadline for updated cost comparison and compliance reporting.
• October 2026 council meeting (meeting date)
  Target date for reporting survey findings.

Next

• Obtain an updated independent cost comparison for natural turf versus synthetic turf at Norman Griffiths Oval.
  Report to the August 2026 council meeting
• Complete requirements under the OLG Capital Expenditure Review Guidelines.
  Report back by August 2026
• Commission a representative resident survey through an external agency.
  Findings to be reported by the October 2026 council meeting
• Prepare estimates for upgrading two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf.
  Report to the August 2026 council meeting

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -EMC-Mins-2026/149325 /1 MINUTES OF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 18 MAY 2026 Present: The Mayor, Councillor Christine Kay (Chairperson) Councillors M Devlin & J Pettett (Comenarra Ward) Councillors I Balachandran & B Ward (Gordon Ward) Councillors S Ngai & A Taylor (Roseville Ward) Councillor M Smith (St Ives Ward) Councillors C Spencer & K Wheatley (Wahroonga Ward) Staff Present: General Manager (David Marshall) Director Community (Meagan Ang) Director Corporate (Angela Apostol) A/Director Development & Regulation (Anne Seaton) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Corporate Lawyer (Jamie Taylor) Manager Gover...