Lysaght Park Sports Field Consultation

To enable more participation in team sports by our local community, the City of Canada Bay needs to better manage current facilities including the ability to increase the opportunity for weeknight training.

 

It is proposed to install four sports field light poles of 22 metres in height positioned at the four corners of the soccer pitch. 

 

The size of the poles is consistent with existing light poles at the City of Canada Bay’s other sports field including Five Dock Park and Campbell Park.

 

Essentially, the higher the pole, the more it throws light towards the centre of the oval reducing light spillage on the perimeter of the park.

Every two years, Council undertakes light spillage measurements at all parks with sports field lighting. This is to ensure the fixtures remain aligned as per original lighting plan.

Many previous studies, including the City of Canada Bay Local Planning Strategy (2010) and City of Canada Bay Recreation and Facilities Strategy (2013) have established the need for either more sporting facilities or better utilisation of existing ones.

 

Current data indicates that during the winter season our sport fields are unable to meet community needs.

 

From 2016 to 2017, with the exception of Netball, there has been an increase in weeknight training of 32.5 field hours and for weekend games an increase of 77 field hours. Council has been able to accommodate this demand with the installation of sports field lights at Ron Routley Reserve and the development of St Luke’s North. In 2018, sports field lighting will be installed at Rothwell Park and Jesse Stewart Reserve to accommodate the growing demand. The pressure on our community sports fields is extreme.

 

Of the two remaining sports fields without lighting, only Lysaght Park is suitable.

The provision of sports lighting at Lysaght Park will provide tangible benefits to the local community and our local sporting groups, enabling an increase in team sport participation which promotes positive mental and physical health benefits for our community.

 

Furthermore, as required under the Local Government Act (1993), the proposal will contribute to the enhanced management and utilisation of these key public assets.

All other sporting fields within the City of Canada Bay are already at over capacity for usage during the winter season.  Campbell Park is over-utilised for winter weeknight training. Installing sports field lighting at adjacent Lysaght Park, will result in Campbell Park being utilised at the preferred capacity.

 

Within the City of Canada Bay Generic Plan of Management – Community Land (2007), Lysaght Park is categorised for both passive and sport use. In the City of Canada Bay Recreation and Facilities Strategy (2013), endorsed by Council on 15 October 2013 is also referenced as a sportsground with recommendations for future utilisation. This strategy partly informed the City of Canada Bay Developer Contributions Plan (2013). These documents were previously placed on public exhibition for community feedback.

An independent qualified electrical engineer has reviewed the proposal and provided a light spill certification which indicated that the proposed lighting poles are not anticipated to result in any significant adverse visual, amenity, overshadowing, obtrusive light spill or view impact and are therefore consistent with the objectives of Clause 4.3 (1) of the City of Canada Bay’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2013. 

 

A number of properties on Swannell and Byrne Avenues enjoy a view over Lysaght Park which may be minimally obscured by the provision of lights. The poles suggested to be installed would be slim and not bulky in nature, are of reasonable form for the park, and ultimately the parkland view will be substantially retained.

 

An independent qualified acoustic engineer has reviewed the proposal and undertaken site testing. Predicted noise levels from all proposed activities will be at or below the site-specific assessment guideline noise levels for properties along Byrne Avenue (including St Andrews Anglican Church).

 

Predicted noise levels from worst case activities may give rise to noise levels above the site-specific assessment guideline noise levels by up to 2dB at some properties along Swannell Avenue without the implementation of management techniques. This is for evening activities only. It should be noted that typical activities in the park will comprise training sessions of lower noise levels with worst case activities occurring rarely. Mitigation recommendations are provided within the acoustic assessment. Please note, the assessment incorrectly refers to 'weekend training' as opposed to the proposal of 'weekend games'. Additionally, it is proposed to utilise the sports field on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am - 6pm, as opposed to the 8am - 1pm as stated in the report. The acoustic assessment included analysis of noise on the weekends from 8am - 6pm.

 

This proposal does not seek to alter the usage of the park, other than to provide the opportunity for weeknight training and additional match time on weekends, and therefore will not result in any reduction in visual privacy for surrounding properties.

It is proposed to limit weeknight training to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 5pm – 9 pm. In the future, approval may be sought to enable the lights to be used on Mondays and Fridays, if the demand by local sporting clubs is evidenced.

Should this proposal proceed to construction, it is anticipated for works to be completed within six to eight weeks and would be undertaken Mondays to Saturdays between 7am to 5pm. With the exception of the proposed works area, public access to all areas of Lysaght Park, including the shared pathway on the eastern side of the park, will remain.

The installation of the proposed lights at Lysaght Park will be subject to broad community support received during the consultation period of 1 to 28 May 2018.

 

If the proposal is supported by the community, it is anticipated that the works will be undertaken towards the end of 2018. These works are budgeted in the City of Canada Bay’s 2017/2018 Capital Expenditure Budget.

 

Lysaght Park is currently utilised on Saturdays from 8am – 1pm during the winter season. It is proposed to make Lysaght Park available for sports group hire at the following times:

Adjacent Campbell Park has been under extreme pressure with all grades playing and training on the same fields. Enabling Lysaght Park to be used for weeknight training will reduce this pressure.

An independent traffic engineer has provided a Traffic and Parking Report which concludes there is sufficient car parking in proximity of Lysaght Park to accommodate the proposed extended hours of use of the park and there will be no adverse traffic or car parking impact on the locality.

Yes. There will not be any changes in utilising Lysaght Park for off-leash dog activity. In 1999, Council endorsed seven (7) parks, including Lysaght Park to be available to the community for off-leash dog activity. Of the seventeen (17) parks across the LGA providing this amenity, six (6) of the parks accommodate both active sports use and off-leash dog activity. No particular section of the park is designated as an off-leash dog area.

 

It is the responsibility of dog owners to ensure they comply with the Companion Animals Act 1998.