Woollahra committee recommends netball-only court plan

A committee recommendation would send proposed courts at Woollahra Ovals 2 and 3 to an environmental review, with a 9pm lighting cutoff, winter evening limits and boundary planting among the proposed measures.

Council: Woollahra Municipal Council

Meeting: 14 Sep 2026 6:30 PM

Recorded status: proposed

Source status: Draft minutes; recorded wording may change when confirmed.


BRIEF

A Woollahra committee recommended narrowing proposed courts at Woollahra Ovals 2 and 3 to netball only and preparing an environmental review. Proposed measures include a 9pm lighting cutoff, winter-season evening restrictions and investigations into parking, traffic, noise, access and planting. The unconfirmed minutes declare a 10-4 vote, but inconsistent councillor naming prevents verification of the tally. The recommendation remains subject to Council consideration.


KEY FACTS

- The committee recommended that Council commission a Review of Environmental Factors for proposed netball courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3.

- The final recommendation would limit the proposed new courts to netball only and exclude basketball.

- The recommended review would assess and incorporate, where appropriate, measures covering parking, traffic management, acoustic impacts, lighting, tree planting, sporting-user consultation and access improvements.

- Measures proposed for assessment include a 6pm Tuesday and Thursday winter-season finish for netball activities and lighting unavailable after 9pm.

- The minutes declare the final recommendation carried 10-4, after amendments including one carried on the Mayor’s casting vote. Inconsistent councillor naming prevents verification of the actual tallies from this record.

- The committee recommendation is for Council consideration; the supplied minutes do not give a construction or assessment timetable.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The source records a committee recommendation for Council consideration, not Council approval to construct the courts.

- The final recommendation proposes that the REF assess and incorporate mitigation measures where appropriate; it does not establish that those measures have been implemented.

- The final recorded recommendation specifies a 9pm lighting cutoff; an earlier carried amendment specified 8pm.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- If Council adopts the recommendation, when would the Review of Environmental Factors and associated technical studies be reported?

- Will Council adopt the recommended netball-only scope and proposed 9pm lighting cutoff?

- If the review proceeds, what parking redesign and traffic-management measures would be assessed?

- If Council adopts the planting recommendation, would planting along Manion Avenue and Kent Road occur before a further project decision?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Council would need to consider the committee recommendation before the proposed actions could be treated as Council decisions.

- If Council adopts the recommendation, a Review of Environmental Factors and associated technical studies would be prepared for proposed netball courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3.

- If adopted, the REF would assess and incorporate, where appropriate, the proposed parking, traffic, planting, lighting, acoustic, sporting-user communication and access measures.

- If Council adopts the recommendation, discussions would be initiated with Cranbrook School about planting trees and shrubs on adjoining land.

- If Council adopts the recommendation, Council planting would be implemented as soon as possible along the Manion Avenue and Kent Road boundaries, including replacement of the former jacaranda by the Kent Road boundary.

- If adopted and the review and technical studies are completed, a further report would outline findings and recommendations about progression of the project.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The document identifies the Strategic & Corporate Committee meeting as held on 14 September 2026 and labels its minutes unconfirmed.
"Strategic & Corporate Committee Monday, 14 September 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Strategic & Corporate Committee 14 September 2026 Strategic & Corporate Committee Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Strategic & Corporate Committee held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 14 September 2026 at 6:30 PM." (Document title and meeting details)

Section 9 is headed as items to be submitted to Council for decision with recommendations from the committee.
"Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter. For the MotionAgainst the Motion Councillor Andruska, Councillor Ardouin, Councillor Carmichael, Councillor Dixson, Councillor Jarvis, Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Parmegiani, Councillor Price, Councillor Regan, Councillor Robertson, Councillor Silcocks, Councillor Torsten, Councillor Witt, Councillor Woodgate, Councillor Zeltzer None 15/0 9.Items to be Submitted to the Council for Decision with Recommendations from this Committee 9.1." (Section 9 heading)

Recommendation 613/2026 proposes that Council note the consultation outcomes and resolve to prepare a Review of Environmental Factors for proposed netball courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3, including appropriate technical investigations and specialist studies.
"The Amendment was put and Carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. For the AmendmentAgainst the Amendment Councillor Andruska, Councillor Ardouin, Councillor Carmichael, Councillor Dixson, Councillor Jarvis, Councillor Price, Councillor Robertson Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Parmegiani, Councillor Regan, Councillor Silcocks, Councillor Torsten, Councillor Witt, Councillor Zeltzer 7/7 (Councillor Jarvis/Councillor Carmichael) 613/2026 Recommendation: THAT Council: A. Note the outcomes of the community consultation undertaken for the proposed netball and basketball courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3. B. Resolve to prepare a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the proposed netball courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3, including appropriate technical investigations and specialist studies necessary to assess the potential impacts of the proposal." (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clauses A–B)

Clause G proposes limiting the new courts to netball only, citing concerns about access to netball training courts and complaints about basketball noise.
"G. Based on concerns raised in the submissions and Late Correspondence with respect to lack of access to netball courts for training, and complaints about noise issues from basketball, limit the proposed new courts to netball only." (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clause G)

The recommendation proposes that the REF assess and incorporate, where appropriate, a restriction ending Tuesday and Thursday netball activities by 6pm during the winter sports season to minimise overlap with rugby training starting at 6.30pm.
"C. Require the REF to assess and incorporate, where appropriate, mitigation measures identified through the community consultation process, including: i.restricting netball activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays to conclude by 6.00pm to minimise overlap with rugby training activities when starting at 6.30pm (Winter sports season only);" (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clause C(i))

Measures proposed for the REF to assess and incorporate where appropriate include investigating car-park redesign, operational traffic and parking measures, and additional trees along the western side of the courts.
"C. Require the REF to assess and incorporate, where appropriate, mitigation measures identified through the community consultation process, including: i.restricting netball activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays to conclude by 6.00pm to minimise overlap with rugby training activities when starting at 6.30pm (Winter sports season only); Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Strategic & Corporate Committee 14 September 2026 ii.investigation of opportunities to redesign the existing car park to increase parking capacity; iii.implementation of operational measures to manage traffic and parking impacts; iv.additional tree planting along the western side of the courts to assist with visual screening and attenuation of noise;" (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clause C)

The proposed measures listed include lighting unavailable after 9pm, low poles focused on the courts to minimise spill, ongoing sporting-user consultation, acoustic assessment, and access gate and pathway improvements.
"v.court lighting not available after 9.00pm and poles as low as possible to be focused on courts and minimising spill; vi.ongoing consultation and communication with existing sporting user groups; vii.assessment of acoustic impacts; and viii.Improvement of access gate and pathway to and from Woollahra Oval 2 and 3. D. Initiate discussions with Cranbrook School to plant trees and shrubs on their land adjoining the boundary of the Ovals to assist with screening and reducing noise." (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clauses C(v)–C(viii))

The recommendation proposes discussions with Cranbrook School about planting on adjoining land and Council planting along Manion Avenue and Kent Road boundaries, including replacement of the former jacaranda by the Kent Road boundary.
"vii.assessment of acoustic impacts; and viii.Improvement of access gate and pathway to and from Woollahra Oval 2 and 3. D. Initiate discussions with Cranbrook School to plant trees and shrubs on their land adjoining the boundary of the Ovals to assist with screening and reducing noise. E. Implement Council planting as soon as possible by boundaries to assist with screening and reducing noise on Manion Avenue and Kent Road including replacement of the former jacaranda by the Kent Rd boundary." (Item 9.3, recommendation 613/2026, clauses D–E)


SOURCES

https://woollahra.resolve.red/web/Player.aspx?id=3047

https://minutesradar.com/news/woollahra-infocouncil-strategic-corporate-committee-14-september-2026-14-sep-2026-6-30-pm-minutes-netball-only-courts-advance-at-woollahra-0c04c915a1/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.