Tell us what you think of our draft plan
Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 in Rose Bay, currently cater primarily for cricket during summer and rugby union in winter.
We recognise the ovals are important to the community and offer excellent sporting and recreational opportunities for children and adults to be active. We are proposing to expand the sports that can use this space by adding two courts for both netball and basketball, which will particularly help accommodate the recent growth of women’s and girls’ sport in our local area.
Our Recreation Strategy 2023 and community feedback identified the need for more of these courts in our area.
We've created a concept plan, which features two proposed courts that will be line-marked for both netball and basketball, contains reversible netball and basketball rings at both ends of each court, four additional netball rings at the sides of the courts, and is located at the northern end of the oval. The proposal also includes relocating the existing cricket nets around 45m to the east. Current rugby and cricket matches and training will not be impacted by the proposed courts, during or after construction.
The proposal has been designed to minimise impacts on surrounding residents, with careful consideration given to lighting and the positioning of the cricket nets and courts facilities, and the shortest possible light poles.
In 2025 Council resolved to:
- provide funding for anticipated courts at Woollahra Oval 2 & 3 in the 2025/26 budget;
- proceed to community consultation on the Woollahra Oval 2 & 3 proposal and invite feedback to mitigate impacts on adjoining neighbours; and
- receive a further report outlining the outcome of community consultation.
You can also view our detailed draft plan here.
We invite you to share your feedback via the form below or come and talk to us at our pop-up session at Woollahra Oval 2 on Tuesday 16 June, 5.30pm-6.30pm.
Feedback closes 11.59pm Sunday 28 June.
Our Recreation Strategy 2023 (page 39) identified a lack of facilities for girls and young women sports in our LGA, and increasing rates of participation in netball. We have received feedback from local girls’ schools, which highlighted the lack of local netball facilities, particularly for training.
Feedback from local netball clubs, including Rose Bay Magic Netball Club and Double Bay Diamonds Netball Club, also supports the need for more netball training facilities.
Currently we have two hard surface netball courts (line-marked for both netball and basketball), located at Christison Park in Vaucluse, and one grass netball court at Lough Playing Fields in Double Bay.
Feedback from local schools and families is that many female students prefer to play netball over other sports such as rugby or cricket, and that there is lack of space to play and train for netball.
From community feedback we understand many local netball players must travel long distances for training and some are unable to access netball facilities for training.
The two proposed courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 will help to meet that demand.
In response to this demand, Council resolved in 2025 to:
- provide funding for anticipated courts at Woollahra Oval 2 & 3 in the 2025/26 budget;
- proceed to community consultation on the Woollahra Oval 2 & 3 proposal and invite feedback to mitigate impacts on adjoining neighbours; and
- receive a further report outlining the outcome of community consultation.
The two proposed courts will be line marked for both netball and basketball and located at the northern end of the oval. The proposal also includes relocating the existing cricket nets around 45m to the east. Current training and sport matches will not be impacted by the proposed courts, during or after construction.
The proposed lighting has been designed to provide safe playing conditions while minimising impacts on surrounding properties and residents. The lights:
- will be permitted to be used on winter weeknights when required between 5:00pm and 9:00pm for bookings and casual play
- will only be permitted to be used for casual play (ie no bookings) between 5.00pm and 9.00pm on weekends
- need to be activated by a push-button system in 30-minute intervals
- cannot be turned on after 9:00pm
- have been designed with 8 light poles so that shorter poles can be used, which focusses light down to the court surface and minimises light spill and glare outside the court area
- are typical for sports courts like tennis courts and netball courts with shorter poles and will be designed in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.
Woollahra Oval 2 and 3 in Rose Bay currently caters for cricket during summer and rugby union in winter. There are two rugby playing fields, one artificial grass cricket wicket and three cricket practice nets. The Rose Bay Community Garden is located within this park.
Concept image of proposed Netball and Basketball Courts at Woollahra Oval 2 and 3
Have your say
Next steps
Council staff will prepare a report which includes community feedback and submit this to Council at a Council meeting in the coming months.
If the project proceeds, we plan to build the courts in 2027. Prior to construction, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act will be prepared and assessed.
