Local MPs Jacqui Scruby and Michael Regan are working with Federal MP Sophie Scamps to secure funding to fix Sydney Academy of Sport’s athletics track in Narrabeen and met at the track on Tuesday 4 March.
Hundreds of local athletes and schools were left with nowhere to run following the closure of the track in December 2023 due to a ‘lack of adhesion to the surface’, which caused ‘bubbling’, likely caused by water damage.
Dr Sophie Scamps, federal member for Mackellar has taken up the case with the Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby and Wakehurst MP Michael Regan, the Member for Wakehurst, have together appealed to the Premier to prioritise funding for track repairs in the upcoming State, are engaging with Minister for Sport, Stephen Kamper, NSW Office of Sport and have written to Minister Wells.
The three MPs issued a joint statement:
“There has been no public commitment of funds, or project plan or timeline released, for the remediation of the track. The lack of progress … is frustrating for everyone.
“Home to local athletics clubs and Manly Warringah Little Athletics, the track allows athletes to train on competition standard facilities, vital for the development of elite athletes and future champions.”
A temporary grass track on the site has been unusable because of overuse, weather conditions and maintenance for several weeks over the summer, and planned Little Athletics meets had to be cancelled.
“This season has been challenging, with the alternative track at the site being unusable for weeks on end and cancelled meets,” said Manly Warringah Little Athletics president Andrew Jauncey.
“We need some clarity and concrete timeframes so that we can plan for the upcoming season and beyond. We accept that this is more a marathon than a sprint, but we at least need a glimpse of the finish line in the long term.”
The loss of Narrabeen is part of a statewide issue with athletics facilities identified by Athletics NSW, according to CEO Christian Renford. The body is currently conducting a review of facilities across the State.
“We know that there is a shortage of dedicated athletics facilities in Sydney. The purpose of the facilities strategy is to quantify this ‘problem’.
Mr Renford said he was aware that athletes had to travel to Centennial Park and Sydney Olympic Park to train, as Narrabeen was the only synthetic track north of the Sydney Harbour.
“The closure of the track, combined with potential disruptions at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, highlights a critical need for a long-term, data-driven facilities strategy.”
