Rates & spending · Ku-ring-gai Council
$24.4m Norman Griffiths synthetic-turf project approved as grandstand support withdrawn
Ku-ring-gai Council adopted the project budget but requires another report before construction procurement can begin.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Ku-ring-gai Council has adopted a $24,408,912 budget for a synthetic-turf upgrade at Norman Griffiths Oval while resolving to withdraw owner’s consent for a proposed grandstand and associated facilities at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
Council resolved to give notice to the Northern Suburbs Football Association that the Heads of Agreement is terminated under clause 10. It also rescinded specified parts of council resolutions made on 18 May and 15 September 2026. The adopted budget is to be funded from the Infrastructure and Facilities Reserve.
The General Manager was authorised to engage NSW Public Works for the project’s design package, flood impact assessment, Review of Environmental Factors, relevant approvals, procurement and project governance. The resolution does not record a construction start date or say that the budget has been spent.
Before procurement for construction can proceed, another report must return to council with a project delivery plan, pre-tender estimate and procurement plan. That leaves the delivery arrangements and pre-tender cost information to be considered at a later stage.
Councillors Balachandran and Taylor proposed deferring the North Turramurra matter pending a staff report on consultation with the Northern Suburbs Football Association and the costs and benefits of termination. The amendment was lost. The substantive resolution was then carried, with five councillors voting for it and two against; Kay, Pettett and Ward were recorded as absent from the vote. The minutes state that Ward was absent because of technical difficulties with her audio-visual link.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution adopts the project budget and authorises the General Manager to engage NSW Public Works, but requires a further council report before procurement for construction.
The minutes record a resolution to give termination notice and withdraw owner's consent; they do not establish that notice has been given or state what termination costs will result.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What will the pre-tender estimate show compared with the adopted $24,408,912 budget?
When will the project delivery, pre-tender and procurement report return to council?
What termination costs, if any, will result from ending the Heads of Agreement?
Which relevant approvals will be required for the project?
What happens next
The resolution calls for Council to notify the Northern Suburbs Football Association that the Heads of Agreement is terminated; the minutes do not establish that notice has been given.
The General Manager may engage NSW Public Works under the authorisation for the design package, flood impact assessment, Review of Environmental Factors, approvals, procurement and project governance work.
A report containing a project delivery plan, pre-tender estimate and procurement plan is to return to council before procurement for construction proceeds.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council resolved to withdraw support and owner's consent for the proposed North Turramurra Recreation Area grandstand and associated facilities, and to give the Northern Suburbs Football Association notice under clause 10 that the agreement is terminated.
Resolved: Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-EMC-Mins-2026/299900 /4 (Moved: Councillors Smith/Spencer) That: A. Council withdraw its support and rescind any and all owner's consent without exception for the development of a new grandstand with associated facilities at the North Turramurra Recreation Area and, in accordance with Clause 10 of the Heads of Agreement - North Turramurra Sports Field, give notice to the Northern Suburbs Football Association that the agreement is terminated.
Item 209, resolution A
Open original minutes ↗A further report with a project delivery plan, pre-tender estimate and procurement plan is required before procurement for construction. The voting list records five councillors for the resolution, two against and three absent.
F. A report be brought back to Council with a project delivery plan, a pre- tender estimate and a procurement plan prior to proceeding to procurement for construction. For the Resolution: The Mayor, Councillor Wheatley, Councillors Devlin, Ngai, Smith, and Spencer Against the Resolution: Councillors Balachandran and Taylor Absent: Councillors Kay, Pettett, and Ward BUSINESS WITHOUT NOTICE – SUBJECT TO CLAUSE 9.3 OF CODE OF MEETING PRACTICE Nil QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE Nil Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-EMC-Mins-2026/299900 /5 INSPECTIONS– SETTING OF TIME, DATE AND RENDEZVOUS Nil The Meeting closed at 6:36pm The Minutes of the Extraordinary
Item 209, resolution F and substantive resolution voting list
Open original minutes ↗Councillors Balachandran and Taylor proposed deferring the NTRA business pending a staff report on consultation with the NSFA and the costs and benefits of terminating the agreement. The amendment was lost.
AMENDMENT: (Moved: Councillors Balachandran/ Taylor) A. That the business in relation to NTRA be deferred pending receipt of a report from staff detailing: • outcome of a consultation to be undertaken with the NSFA concerning their present intentions in relation to the project • the costs and benefits of terminating the agreement, with regards to public value and council facility upgrades. The Amendment when put to the vote was LOST. For the Amendment: Councillors Balachandran and Taylor Against the Amendment: The Mayor, Councillor Wheatley, Devlin, Ngai, Smith, and Spencer Absent: Councillors Kay, Pettett, and Ward Debate resumed on the Motion.
Item 209, amendment and amendment voting result
Open original minutes ↗The minutes state that Councillor Ward was absent during voting on the item because of technical difficulties with her audio-visual link.
F. A report be brought back to Council with a project delivery plan, a pre- tender estimate and a procurement plan prior to proceeding to procurement for construction. Councillor Ward was absent from the meeting during voting on this item due to technical difficulties with her audio-visual link (in accordance with Clause 5.24 of the Code of Meeting Practice).
Item 209, voting note
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This article reports on Ku-ring-gai Council’s minutes for the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 21 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The adopted Norman Griffiths Oval project budget is $24,408,912.
- The budget is funded from the Infrastructure and Facilities Reserve.
- Council resolved to use a synthetic playing surface and authorised the General Manager to engage NSW Public Works for the project.
- Council resolved to withdraw owner’s consent for the proposed North Turramurra Recreation Area grandstand and give the Northern Suburbs Football Association notice that the agreement is terminated.
- A project delivery plan, pre-tender estimate and procurement plan must return to Council before construction procurement proceeds.
- The substantive resolution was recorded as carried, with five votes for, two against and three councillors absent from the vote.
Why it matters
- The resolution withdraws support for the proposed North Turramurra Recreation Area grandstand and adopts a $24,408,912 budget for a synthetic-turf project at Norman Griffiths Oval, while requiring further planning and procurement information before construction procurement.