The Minns Labor Government is putting more public land into local hands, with Belrose's County Road Reserve set to be transferred to Northern Beaches Council, locking in the long-term future of a much-loved community sporting asset.
The 1.72-hectare reserve on Forest Way is an important community sporting asset on the Northern Beaches and a key part of the local open space network.
It is a home ground for Wakehurst Football Club's 2,000 players and has long been identified by local sporting organisations as a key opportunity to help meet growing demand for quality sporting infrastructure.
Participation in community sport across the Northern Beaches is rising fast, particularly among women and girls, and council ownership will open the door to upgrading and expanding the reserve's recreational use so it can keep pace with local families, clubs and volunteers who rely on it.
The transfer builds on a run of major open space investments this term. The Minns Labor Government is investing $40 million to upgrade local parks, sports fields, swimming spots and town squares through its Better Open Spaces Program, in addition to investing $520 million for open space and active transport in Transport Oriented Development precincts.
The Government has also stood up a Blue-Green Grid Committee to expand Sydney's parklands network, transferring 28 hectares of surplus land along the Duck River Corridor to Cumberland City Council for permanent protection as public open space.
Subject to passage of the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Amendment (Review) Bill 2026, reforms to the Greater Sydney Parklands Act will set up a long-term sustainable funding model which is expected to support more than 300 hectares of additional parkland.
The transfer of County Road Reserve highlights the importance of unlocking government-owned land for community use, making sure valuable public assets continue to deliver long-term benefits for local communities.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:
"County Road Reserve is exactly the kind of community asset we want to see thrive under local ownership, well used, well-loved and ready to grow with the Northern Beaches.
"Putting this reserve in Council's hands means Wakehurst Football Club and the thousands of local families, players and volunteers who use it can look forward to the investment and upgrades this site deserves.
"This transfer sits alongside our broader push to deliver more open space across Sydney, because growing communities need places to play, gather and stay active, and we are backing that need with real investment."
Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan said:
"This is a major step forward and an important outcome for the Northern Beaches community. The land transfer removes the first hurdle in delivering better sports facilities at County Road.
"State Government ownership of the land was a key barrier to getting the sports facility upgrades on County Road that the community are crying out for.
"Today that barrier has been removed, clearing the way for planning and investment."
