Media release
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
The Rozelle Parklands sporting fields will finally open for play following the handover of care, control and management for the Parklands from Transport for NSW to Inner West Council.
The news will come as a great relief to all the local sporting clubs who have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to use the two sporting fields for the past 18 months.
Frustratingly, Transport for NSW had refused throughout that time to allow local children to make use of the sporting fields until the handover to Council was completed.
Council and local sporting clubs will celebrate with an opening ceremony at the Parklands this Saturday July 5 with competition and training on the fields to commence from 12 July.
The agreement is based on Council managing the Rozelle Parklands, including the sporting fields, in return for a grant from Transport for NSW of $20 million to improve facilities at the Parklands and nearby parks.
Council has already committed to use part of this money to create 2 all-weather sporting surfaces at Callan Park to replace the all-weather surface the previous State Government failed to deliver at Rozelle Parklands.
Part of the grant is also being used to create two new raised pedestrian crossings on Lilyfield Road to make access to the park safer as well as an extra 80 car parking spaces on Lilyfield Road adjacent to the Parklands.
The agreement also means that Council can use the grandstand seating at the sporting fields as a natural amphitheatre for theatre, live performance, music and film screenings.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said, "It's been a long fight to get this agreement finalised but finally our sporting clubs, and local children and young people can get on to the Rozelle Parklands there to have a kick."
"We will be improving facilities at the Parklands and neighbouring parks and sporting fields with the $20 million grant that comes as part of the agreement so the whole community can see the benefits.
"We're also pressing ahead with plans to use the natural amphitheatre at the sporting fields for live performance and events."
