Callan Park Community Group Reaffirms Opposition to Synthetic Turf after Heritage Council Objections

An advocacy group for the preservation of Callan Park has reaffirmed its opposition to an $8.2 million council plan for artificial grass in parts of the heritage-listed precinct.

The Inner West Council seeks to install synthetic turf on Waterfront Oval beside the Bay Run, and on the field next to Balmain Road. The Friends of Callan Park, a community organisation, has been a consistent opponent of the proposal since it was raised early last year. At the time, the group’s president Hall Greenland said there appeared “to be a rush to a decision” from the Council.

As of writing, a Development Application was expected to go on exhibition shortly. However, the DA process is not the only hurdle which the proposal needs to clear. Consent from the Heritage Council of New South Wales is required, and its Approvals Committee has indicated dissatisfaction.

“Having regard to the exceptionally significant landscape setting of Callan Park and … best-practice guidelines … for climate resilient playing surfaces in NSW, the Approvals Committee has a preference for retention of the existing turf as the playing field surface,” the committee wrote in early April. It stressed the need for “greater justification and more detail” from the Inner West Council.

Approval from Greater Sydney Parklands is also required.

Synthetic fields “unplayable” in summer and after heavy rain

Commenting to City Hub, Greenland lampooned the terminology of synthetic turf.

“First off, we insist on using the term ‘plastic grass’ because that is what the fields are made of. It is telling that the advocates for plastic grass will not use that term despite its accuracy,” Greenland said.

“The term ‘all-weather’ is just not accurate. These fields heat up in summer – to above 60°C – so they are unplayable, and in periods of heavy rain the cork infill can wash away, again making such fields unusable.”

Greenland said that the group’s objections to the material were “unanswerable” and multifaceted. “It is polluting, dangerous, costly, restrictive, adds to climate change – and is unnecessary.”

“In Callan Park’s case there is also the heritage objection. Callan Park is a rare 19th century landscape – plastic grass fields clearly have no place on such a precious heritage site.”

He acknowledged that fields in the Inner West are not always in a good condition, especially during winter. He said this “is partly due to the acute shortage of playing fields in the Inner West and the growing demand to use these fields.”

The Inner West has “the second lowest ratio of open space per resident” in the state, he added, meaning that sporting fields “get very heavy wear and tear.”

Broader community “will lose access”

At a seminar hosted by the Friends of Callan Park on 12 July, president Catriona Carver of the National Turf Alliance also objected to the council’s plan.

“The upgrade of Balmain Road Oval and Waterfront Oval should be based on best practice natural turf supported by modern drainage systems, effective irrigation and quality maintenance,” Carver said.

“This will provide a much safer, sustainable, and high-performing solution for community sport.”

“Rather than investing huge sums on only one or two fields, the Inner West Council should use its resources to upgrade multiple natural turf fields. This would be fairer for sports users and other community users.”

She said that there are “well-documented” problems with synthetic fields. “These include microplastic pollution, excessive surface heat, expensive replacement costs and landfill disposal every 8–10 years.”

“Of course, if synthetic turf is used, the broader community will lose access to these public fields.”

Callan Park Dog Lovers, another local group, called the plan “a blatant misuse of public money to benefit just two football clubs, while thousands of daily park users will be sidelined.”

Former independent councillor John Stamolis stated his opposition.

“Sports have been played at Callan Park for 140 years. Today, there are five fields at Callan Park giving great amenity and enjoyment to sports users and the wider community. All are natural turf.”

“Callan Park is a rare and unique 1870s landscape. It is an item of State Heritage Significance and it is one of the five iconic parklands of Sydney. This is not the place for large fields of synthetic turf.”