Proposal to build 132 homes on north shore sports fields criticised by NSW Government and local council

Plans to build 132 homes on three sports fields in Sydney’s north shore suburbs of North Ryde and Eastwood have been criticised by NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello, while Ryde council vows to protect the green space from developers.

North Ryde RSL and Eastwood Rugby submitted a proposal to the City of Ryde council to rezone the privately owned TG Millner Field in Marsfield to allow the construction of ‘The Marsfield Common’ project.

A spokesman for North Ryde RSL and Eastwood Rugby said the clubs were entitled to build seniors’ living under existing planning rules, but its proposal would be better for the community.

The spokesman also said the rugby fields no longer served the Marsfield community, especially new residents from China, India, Korea and the Philippines “where rugby is not popular”.

Developers behind the plans for 'Marsfield Commons' argued the site had reached the end of its life and needed to be renewed. A statement on the developer’s website claims “68% of the local community derives its ancestry from countries where the sport of Rugby is rarely even heard of. Only 4% of Eastwood rugby players live within the Ryde LGA.”

The 'Marsfield Commons' proposal promises to deliver state-of-the-art and site-appropriate housing, recreational spaces for the local community, increased tree canopy, vegetation and landscaping and a new public park.  

North Ryde RSL and Eastwood Rugby also pledged a $1 million contribution to the development of a synthetic field in the Ryde area.

'This $1 million contribution to a synthetic field in the LGA will provide a year-round optimal playing surface for local kids of all ages,' the website argues.

The spokesman for the clubs added that the viability of keeping the rugby fields had also been affected by previous council decisions rejecting lighting upgrades and imposing parking restrictions noting “despite the best efforts over many years of Eastwood Rugby and North Ryde RSL to keep TG Millner Field alive, the fields are unused and not relevant to the local community.”

Minister Dominello however has slammed and opposed the proposal describing it as “totally unacceptable to the community.”

Minister Dominello, who is the local state member for Ryde, said the area had borne the brunt of Sydney’s growth over the past few years and added “we need to instead prioritise investment in local infrastructure like schools, hospitals and roads.”

Ryde City Council Mayor Jordan Lane said the Ryde area needed grounds for all sporting codes advising “TG Millner is a premier field, worthy of preservation” and highlighted that the Ryde area needed 13 additional sports ovals by 2036 to keep up with demand and population growth “decimating one of our largest existing open spaces will set this cause back significantly.”

The club’s spokesman added that money from the project would be reinvested in the RSL Club and contribute to the cost of the new sports facilities for Eastwood Rugby at Castle Hill.

Despite opposition from Dominello and the council, the spokesman said the project was backed by members of the RSL and rugby clubs. “There exists significant support in the Ryde [local government area] for what is proposed and for the delivery of a new one-hectare public park.”

The battle to prevent TG Millner Field from being developed follows a controversial deal by Lane Cove Council to permit the construction of seniors housing on sporting fields in Lane Cove.

Minister Dominello said public open space in Sydney was precious “and once it’s gone it’s gone forever”.

“That’s why we must fight to save TG Millner Field for future generations,” he said. “If proponents of the plan don’t think rugby is popular any more, then we should work together to accommodate other sports.”

The planning proposal is currently being assessed by council officers, but 12 out of 13 Ryde councillors in June voted to oppose any plans to reduce green space in Ryde.

A community group has also set up a “Save TG Millner Field” petition which will be presented to the Ryde Mayor Lane to present to his Council and to the NSW Government Minister for Planning to represent the concerns and passion of Ryde locals to Stop Development on TG Millner Fields.

The community Facebook page notes “TG Millner fields in Marsfield has been a local icon in the suburb since 1952, the home of Eastwood Rugby “The Woodies”, who owned the grounds outright until 2017 when it was purchased by North Ryde RSL. There are three playing fields on the site, two on the “top oval” and the “main field” which has a grandstand and the club house. There is also a child care centre on the grounds, built in the early 2000s. The fields are in use all year round by many local teams. 

“Developing the fields at TG Millner would be a great loss to the community at large. Open green space is precious in Marsfield and the Ryde area generally. The grounds are currently zoned as a recreational area, something that should remain. Any re-zoning would be totally unacceptable to the local community.”

Image top: TG Millner sports field Credit: SaveTGMillnerMarsfield; image above: Artist impression of development proposal