Extra Ordinary Meeting of Council - 29 Jul 2026 1:00 PM

Topics

• Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade stays under existing resolution after council rescission bid fails
  Council rejected the attempt to rescind its May resolution on the Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade, leaving the existing resolution in effect while the project’s cost and surface options remain politically contested.
  Residents remain affected by the future of the oval upgrade and the potential scale of public spending, including the previously discussed increase from $12.4 million to up to $20.2 million.
• Resident survey on Norman Griffiths Oval surface left unresolved
  A proposed representative resident survey on synthetic versus natural turf was not adopted because the rescission motion failed, leaving the timing and status of community consultation uncertain.
  The surface choice could affect sports access, project cost, environmental considerations and the community’s view of the upgrade.

Decisions

• Rescission of May Norman Griffiths Oval resolution rejected
  The motion to rescind the resolution of the 18 May 2026 Extraordinary Meeting, Minute 85, was lost. The vote was equal, and the Mayor used her casting vote against the motion.
  The 18 May resolution remains in effect; this meeting did not replace or cancel it.
• Associated project proposals lapsed
  Because the rescission motion failed, the associated Part B proposals—including recommencing or revising the oval project, considering updated cost estimates, and conducting a representative resident survey—lapsed and were not voted on.
  There is no new approval from this meeting for the proposed project changes, budget increase, survey or additional oval works.

Discussion

• Norman Griffiths Oval project cost and surface dispute
  Councillors considered rescinding Minute 85 from the 18 May 2026 Extraordinary Meeting, which concerned the Norman Griffiths Oval project and its potentially increased cost.
  The project could involve a substantial commitment of council funds and determine the future playing surface and use of the oval.
• Further cost estimates and possible consultation
  The proposed motion referred to updated independent cost comparisons by NSW Public Works for synthetic turf and best-practice natural turf, as well as estimates for upgrading two additional ovals. These proposals were not resolved at this meeting because the rescission motion failed.
  Residents do not have a new council decision from this meeting on the preferred surface, additional oval upgrades or revised project funding.
• Debate and voting procedure
  A procedural motion to allow councillors to speak for longer than five minutes was defeated. A separate procedural motion to vote on the matter clause by clause was carried.
  These procedural outcomes affected how the contested project decision was debated and voted on, but did not change project policy.

Impacts

• The Norman Griffiths Oval project remains governed by the 18 May 2026 resolution rather than a new decision made on 29 July.
• The meeting did not approve the proposed increase from $12.4 million to up to $20.2 million, a new synthetic or natural turf decision, a representative resident survey or upgrades to two additional ovals.
• The project remains subject to ongoing uncertainty over cost, playing-surface choice, stormwater infrastructure and community preferences.

Places

• Norman Griffiths Oval (sports facility)
  Synthetic or best-practice natural turf upgrade project discussed; project budget was previously increased to up to $20.2 million.
• Infrastructure and Facilities Reserve (council reserve)
  Reserve identified as the proposed funding source for the previously considered project budget increase.

Next

• The 18 May 2026 resolution, Minute 85, remains in effect.
  Following the 29 July 2026 meeting
• No new project, funding or consultation action was approved because the rescission motion failed and Part B lapsed.
  At this meeting

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -EMC-Mins-2026/235989 /1 MINUTES OF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 29 JULY 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) Director Development & Regulation (Michael Miocic) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Corporate Lawyer (Jamie Taylor) Manager...