Proposed Tempe Reserve agreement to boost local sports clubs participation

Thursday, 15 August 2019

Inner West Council and Newington College are progressing a ground-breaking agreement over the use of Tempe Reserve, which would give local sporting clubs a massive boost.

The Stanmore-based school recently approached Council seeking to contribute towards the upgrade of Tempe Reserve, of which the school is a long-term user.

Earlier this year, Council endorsed a new program of installing synthetic surfaces at sporting grounds in the Inner West to meet the growing demand from local families for more spaces to play.

Tempe Reserve was identified as the highest priority site as it was deemed more suitable to host multiple codes including Aussie Rules, cricket, soccer and both rugby codes.

“Council is looking to formalise a longstanding informal agreement with Newington in return for a substantial capital investment that will result in a top-class sporting precinct,” said Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne.

“Through such an agreement, a well-resourced, longstanding Inner West school can contribute to facilities that will benefit all local kids.

“At Tempe Reserve, we have an opportunity to create a regional sporting precinct that will benefit the whole of the Inner West. Each synthetic surface we establish there means we can more than double the use of the ground,” said Mayor Byrne.

“A formalised arrangement would be of massive benefit to local sports clubs as it must result in the increased use of Tempe Reserve by multiple codes, including local soccer clubs like Marrickville Red Devils.”

Council recently sought guidance by commissioning the Inner West Synthetic Turf Feasibility Study on site selection, feasibility, management and financial implications. It has currently allocated $2 million in the capital budget for 2019-2020 for the synthetic sports surface construction.

An agreement would also mean Council would be able to invest in building more synthetic fields instead of one ground currently budgeted for.

Benefits of synthetic turf

• The artificial surfaces can be used by multiple codes
• More than doubles the playing time/capacity of sportsgrounds.
• Accessible for people with disabilities whose walkers/racers can only work properly on synthetic surfaces
•  Will provide more playing time in the inner west, allowing far more women and girls to play

Visit the Your Say Inner West website to have your say on the draft Tempe Reserve Plan of Management and Master Plans when they go on public exhibition in September.