Willoughby City Council is setting a clear direction for the future of sport and recreation across the local area, drawing on insights from a community forum held earlier this month.
The Sport and Recreation Forum, held at The Concourse in Chatswood, brought together more than 75 representatives from over 50 local sporting clubs, schools and community organisations. The discussions will directly inform Council's Future Sports Needs Strategy, a key planning project for 2025/26.
Mayor Tanya Taylor said the forum was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the sporting community about current pressures and emerging needs.
"We are fortunate to have such a strong and active sporting community in Willoughby, but we know there are challenges around access to facilities," Mayor Taylor said.
"The discussions were robust, constructive and forward-focused. Together we explored how Council can balance resources, identify the biggest opportunities for Willoughby and address the challenges our sporting community faces.
"This forum gave us the chance to hear directly from clubs, schools and associations, and to work together on solutions that will support participation and growth in the years ahead."
The forum builds on the findings of the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) Review of Supply and Demand for Sports Facilities and focused on identifying local priorities to guide future investment and planning.
Key issues and priorities raised included:
• A shortage of training spaces and limited community access to fields
• Lack of wet-weather training options
• Insufficient basketball and court sport facilities
• The need for additional floodlighting on fields without lights
• The need to expand shared use of school sites
The event featured a keynote presentation by Paralympian Tristan Knowles OAM, who spoke on the importance of inclusion in sport and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Council staff and leadership, including the Mayor and General Manager, attended the forum to hear directly from the community.
The insights gathered will build on NSROC's work and set clear priorities to address facility gaps, improve access and support the future of community sport across Willoughby.
