Sydney's Eastern Suburbs gains a new community park and sporting facility

Randwick City Council is undertaking a range of works to transform a former Women's Athletics Field on the Sydney suburb of Chifley into a new sporting facility and community park.

The 7.7 hectare Chifley Sports Reserve was managed by the Women's Amateur Sports Council from 1955 until Randwick City Council was appointed trust manager in 2008.

Prior to 1955, Council records indicate that a tip operated on site collecting household and building waste to fill the site to create level sports fields. Further filling and levelling was undertaken in the 1980s from the demolition of the Bunnerong Power Station and the field was capped with top soil.

When Council took over the site, the reserve was in poor condition and the buildings in a state of disrepair.

Following community consultation, Council developed a Plan of Management in 2010 to identify and guide future improvements and works on the site.

The first stage commenced in 2013 and will be complete by the end of this year. 

The works have involved remediating and levelling the entire site and removing old buildings and include:

• 1.5 kilometres of shared pedestrian/cycling paths
• Two dedicated baseball fields
• One large multipurpose playing field able to accommodate a range of team sports
• New bubblers, rubbish bins and seats
• Planting thousands of native trees and tens of thousands of shrubs
• Remediation works to the site
• Installing underground water tanks to irrigate the reserve using 100% recycled stormwater
• Sports field and car park lighting
• Dedicated off street car parking for 180 cars

In 2014/15, Randwick Council will be undertaking additional improvements including:

• A childrens' all-abilities playground
• Installation of outdoor gyms  throughout the reserve
• Two amenities buildings with kiosks, storage, toilets and change rooms
• A skatepark

To check the status of work, visit our interactive works and upgrade map.

The reserve is one of the largest sporting reserves in Randwick City and an important recreational space for the residents living in Randwick City's southern suburbs.

The Council's upgrade program will restore the park to a quality condition and provide a new facility for children and adults to play a range of sports.

Work also includes providing a range of regional recreational facilities for local residents and greater Sydney.

17th June 2013 - SOUTH EASTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT TAKES A LEAD WITH ADVICE ON OUTDOOR GYMS