Ku-ring-gai pauses Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade and orders resident survey

Ku-ring-gai Council has paused the Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade after its budget climbed to $20.2 million and Mayor Christine Kay broke a 5-5 tie to back a resident survey and fresh costings at an extraordinary meeting on 18 May 2026.

Councillors noted the project had moved through eight budget revisions, starting at $3.1 million in 2021 and reaching $20.2 million by April 2026. The minutes also record that the NSW Public Works report said costs may be higher.

Council resolved to engage NSW Public Works, or another suitably qualified independent expert, to provide an updated cost comparison of a best-practice natural turf field and a synthetic turf field at Norman Griffiths Oval. Minimum and maximum construction cost estimates are due to the August 2026 council meeting.

The council also noted that it does not have a mandate to spend the scale of additional funds without consulting the community. It resolved to commission a representative, non opt-in resident survey through an external agency, with a $30,000 budget.

The survey is to give councillors clear guidance on residents’ surface preferences for Norman Griffiths Oval, along with high-level information on costs, benefits and risks. Findings are due to the October 2026 council meeting.

Councillors also asked staff to estimate the cost of upgrading two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf to increase field capacity. Staff are to recommend the most suitable sites, with that report also due in August 2026.

The meeting also received and noted advice from the NSW Office of Local Government on capital expenditure review requirements. Council agreed to release officers’ reports to the press and public, except for confidential attachments to the Norman Griffiths Oval paper.

For Norman Griffiths Oval, the next steps are now a fresh cost comparison, a resident survey and more budget scrutiny before any further money is committed.