infrastructure · Ku-ring-gai Council
Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade stays under $12.4m resolution after rescission bid fails
The tied vote leaves the 18 May resolution in place, while proposed cost reviews, a $30,000 resident survey and further oval upgrades were not approved.
Ku-ring-gai Council has left the Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade under its existing $12.4 million resolution after a bid to rescind it failed, despite the project’s indicative cost reaching up to $20.2 million. The vote was tied before Mayor Christine Kay used her casting vote against the rescission.
The motion was lodged by Councillors Smith, Pettett and Ngai. It sought to rescind Minute 85 from the 18 May 2026 Extraordinary Meeting, which concerned the oval project and its rising cost.
The proposal noted eight budget revisions, from $3.1 million in 2021 to $3.3 million in November 2022, $4.3 million in November 2023, $4.7 million in February 2024, $5.1 million in May 2024, $6.9 million in February 2025, $12.4 million in September 2025 and up to $20.2 million in April 2026. It also noted that a NSW Public Works report indicated costs could be higher.
The rescission motion proposed pausing the project and obtaining updated independent cost comparisons for a synthetic field and best-practice natural turf at Norman Griffiths Oval. It also included a $30,000 representative resident survey on surface preferences and estimates for upgrading two additional ovals with best-practice natural turf.
Those proposals were not approved. Once the council voted against rescinding the May resolution, Part B of the motion lapsed and was not put to a vote. The 18 May resolution therefore remains in effect.
Debate included proposals to recommence the project, install underground pre-cast concrete tanks for on-site stormwater detention and increase the budget from $12.4 million to up to $20.2 million, funded from the Infrastructure and Facilities Reserve. Those proposed amendments were defeated.
NSW Public Works is preparing updated comparisons of synthetic and natural turf, as well as estimates for upgrading two additional ovals. A proposal for a representative survey to be reported to the October 2026 Ordinary Meeting was also defeated at the meeting.
A procedural motion to allow councillors to speak for longer than five minutes was lost. A separate motion to vote on the matter clause by clause was carried unanimously.
Reference minutes
Ku-ring-gai Council, Extra Ordinary Meeting of Council, 29 July 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The motion to rescind the 18 May 2026 resolution was lost after an equal vote and Mayor Christine Kay’s casting vote against it.
- The existing 18 May resolution, Minute 85, remains in effect.
- The project’s indicative budget had risen from $12.4 million to up to $20.2 million by April 2026.
- Proposed cost comparisons for synthetic and natural turf were not approved at this meeting.
- A proposed representative resident survey included a $30,000 budget and a report target of October 2026.
- Proposed estimates for upgrading two additional ovals with natural turf also lapsed.
Why it matters
- Norman Griffiths Oval remains governed by the 18 May resolution while the project’s potential cost of up to $20.2 million, playing-surface choice, stormwater infrastructure and community preferences remain contested.