$12 million ‘duck pond’: The suburban soccer pitch costing ratepayers a fortune
A suburban football club’s dream of a world-class all-weather field has devolved into what locals are calling a “prison camp” of rubble, mud, and broken promises, leaving ratepayers to foot a ballooning multimillion-dollar bill.
Sydney’s Ku-ring-gai Council originally promised the West Pymble Football Club a state-of-the-art synthetic surface to replace their perennially waterlogged grass pitch.
The home ground of West Pymble FC was supposed to be a shining beacon for local sport. Instead, the site has been left looking more like a disaster zone. Nine
Instead, the site has been left looking more like a disaster zone than a sports field.
‘Field of dreams’ turns into a festering lake
The home ground of West Pymble FC was supposed to be a shining beacon for local sport.
The council kicked in $3 million, and community volunteers raised an additional $100,000 through countless sausage sizzles.
Instead, the project has completely stalled.
What sits behind the chain-link fences installed in March 2023 is a $12 million pile of rocks and a murky lake that requires around-the-clock pumping.
“It’s almost like coming to a prison camp or a detention centre,” West Pymble FC president Keiran Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s so hugely disappointing.”
Sydney’s Ku-ring-gai Council originally promised players a state-of-the-art synthetic surface. Nine
The root of the issue? The pitch was approved for construction on an old quarry site, an area notorious for flooding.
“You shouldn’t put a synthetic soccer field in a flood-prone area,” says project critic Bronwyn, who obtained an independent expert report.
“I think it’s time for the community and for everyone to step back and think: is this really good value for money?”
With councillors voting to pause the project and the original turf contractor paid out to walk away, the council now faces spending an additional $8 million just to finish the job.
That brings the total projected cost to more than $20 million for a single suburban soccer pitch.
Red cards and blame games at council
Mayor Christine Kay, who originally voted to green-light the project before voting to pause it, defended her recent decisions.
On the $20 million disaster she said: “It’s not ideal, no. I feel I’m being diligent and making sure we have the right measures in place before we spend any more money.”
On why it was built there she replied: “That I can’t answer.”
Former mayor and current Councillor Cedric Spencer, who signed off on the synthetic turf contract in 2021, claims councillors were relying on internal staff reports regarding the flood risks.
“Do you feel you’ve been hoodwinked?” he was asked.
“Oh, yeah, definitely,” Spencer replied, suggesting he deserved a yellow card rather than a red card because he “should have been more careful”.
Other councillors were less receptive to the scrutiny.
When asked if he deserved a yellow or red card for the debacle, Councillor Jeff Pettett fired back: “No, you might want to give yourself an uppercut for that.”
Players left out in the cold
While the councillors argue, families and athletes are paying the price. West Pymble FC’s games have been forced five kilometres up the road to a temporary ground with a dilapidated toilet block as the only shelter.
Mayor Christine Kay, who originally voted to green-light the project before voting to pause it, defended her recent decisions. Nine
When it rains, the replacement pitch rapidly deteriorates, forcing matches to be called off mid-game because the ball will no longer roll.
The disruption hits the women’s and girls’ teams the hardest.
Because they play on Sundays — the day after the men’s competition has already chewed up the grass — any bit of wet weather results in immediate cancellations.
“Poor planning, poor leadership, no accountability,” says local player Ryan.
Ratepayers left footing the bill
Compounding the community’s anger is a separate recent 29 per cent hike in local council rates.
While furious residents worry the sudden rate surge is being used to cover up the $12 million own goal at the soccer pitch, Kay denied any correlation.
“It’s got no relationship to their rates,” the mayor insisted. “At the end of the day, that comes out of reserves.”
With West Pymble FC turning 70 years old next year, the club is facing an existential crisis without a proper home.
Some councillors, like Councillor Barb Ward, insist the project must be finished regardless of the soaring price tag: “It needs to be done.”
For now, the site remains an expensive, waterlogged crater, leaving the community to wonder how much more of their money will be sunk into the mud.
What do you think? Should the council cut their losses, or spend the extra $8 million to finish the pitch?
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