NSW MPs Jacqui Scruby and Micheal Regan are working with Federal MP Sophie Scamps, to secure funding to fix Narrabeen synthetic athletics track.  

Hundreds of local athletes young and old, as well as almost every school on the Northern Beaches, used to regularly use the Sydney Academy of Sport track which has been closed since December 2023, because ‘a lack of adhesion to the surface’ probably caused by water damage.        

Dr Sophie Scamps, the federal member for Mackellar and a former international athlete, has taken up the case with the federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells.        

Jacqui Scruby, the Member for Pittwater, and Micheal Regan, the Member for Wakehurst, have together made representations directly to the NSW Premier requesting funding be prioritised to fix the track in the coming 2025/26 NSW State Budget, and are engaging with the Minister for Sport, Stephen Kamper and the NSW Office of Sport.  They have backed in calls by Dr Sophie Scamps for federal funding for the track this week by together writing to Federal Sports Minister, Anika Wells.       

The three MPs today issued a joint statement.        

“The synthetic track at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen was an important community facility, and widely used by local schools, and elite and recreational athletes from across the Northern Beaches and North Shore of Sydney. It has been unavailable for over a year now. There has been no public commitment of funds, project plan or timeline released for the remediation of the track. The lack of progress on remediation is frustrating for everyone.   

The track is home to local athletics clubs and Manly Warringah Little Athletics. It allows athletes to train on competition standard facilities, vital for the development of elite athletes and future champions. Athletics is a popular sport that provides significant health benefits for young and old. It is also included in the NSW curriculum.    

As the three MPs representing Narrabeen, and the surrounding communities, we have approached state and federal governments calling for them to recognise the importance of this sporting infrastructure by allocating funding in their upcoming budgets.”    

Ms Scruby today said, “We literally need to fast track this. The whole community, our athletes and school students are missing out. Since being elected, I’ve been hustling for funding and improved options for athletes training whilst the track is shut. In December a stakeholder consultation was held to define the design specifications to support a budget application. I’ve also worked to find better interim solutions, including discussions with private venues and council," said Jacqui Scruby.    

Mr Regan said, ‘The community deserves certainty and confidence about when and how the track will be fixed. We know that an insurance claim for track damage from flooding has been settled, but a significant funding gap remains. This is an important public asset for our entire region. We urgently need a funding allocation, a project plan, and a timeline. With the 2028 and our own Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon, maintaining world class facilities must be a top priority.’       

Dr Scamps highlighted the impact on the community and the sport.    

“In the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 it is entirely unsatisfactory that a population of over 1 million people of the Northern Beaches and North Sydney do not have a synthetic track in their region to train on. We should be attracting the world’s best athletes to train at Narrabeen, instead all we have to offer them is a temporary grass track. Even more importantly, we are missing out on the opportunity to leverage Australia’s hosting of the Olympic games to inspire and support new athletes, young and old. As we face a growing public health crisis of obesity and overweight, we should be doing all we can to support people in enjoying and participating in physical activity,” she said.      

The temporary grass track at the Sydney Academy of Sport site has been unusable because of overuse, weather conditions and maintenance for several weeks over the summer, and planned Little Athletics meets had to be cancelled.       

With this athletics season coming to a close, Athletics NSW, Manly Warringah Little Athletics and other clubs are looking for clarity.      

“We have almost given up hope on the track being refurbished in time for next season in October. Given the track was closed abruptly in December 2023, that's likely to stretch out to more than 2 years. This season has been very challenging, with the alternative grass track at the site being unusable for weeks on end and cancelled meets,” said Manly Warringah Athletics Centre President Andrew Jauncey.     

“We need some clarity and concrete timeframes so that we can plan for the upcoming season and beyond. We accept that this is more a marathon, than a sprint, but we at least need a glimpse of the finish line in the long term. In the meantime, we’d like to secure a better interim solution for our kids.        

“Future champions and Olympians start in Little Athletics, hundreds of kids enjoy participating. While athletics is growing in popularity across NSW, we are seeing a drop off in our numbers. Access to the synthetic track is sorely missed.”   

The loss of Narrabeen is part of a statewide issue with athletics facilities identified by Athletics NSW, according to CEO Christian Renford. The body is currently conducting a review of facilities across the state.   

“We know that there is a shortage of dedicated athletics facilities Sydney. The purpose of the facilities strategy is to quantify this ‘problem’.      

“Narrabeen is the only synthetic track in Sydney north of the harbour. The next most northern track is on the Central Coast (180km round trip). I am aware that athletes have been traveling to Centennial Park (65km round trip) and Sydney Olympic Park (70km round trip) in the lead up to zone, region and state champs.”   

"The closure of Athletics Track at the Sydney Sports Academy, combined with potential disruptions at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, highlights a critical need for a long-term, data-driven facilities strategy. Athletics is the number one Olympic sport and one of the most inclusive and accessible activities in the world. To continue fostering participation at all levels, we need a firm commitment to maintaining and expanding our infrastructure across NSW.    

“Thousands of athletes, from grassroots participants to elite performers, rely on these facilities – not just for training and competition, but for major school and community events. Without urgent investment, we risk stalling the incredible momentum our sport has gained in recent years.    

“Athletics in NSW is experiencing unprecedented growth, from record-breaking performances on the world stage to the historic alignment of our junior and senior pathways with the NSW Athletics Partnership. But our facilities are struggling to keep pace. The loss of even a single major venue creates a ripple effect that disrupts competition schedules, impacts athlete development, and undermines the sport’s future.”