Synthetic Surface At Cammeray Park

The surface may be artificial but the seed planted nearly a decade ago to create a synthetic field at Cammeray Park was real and it’s now finally bearing fruit.

“We have a limited amount of outdoor space and we can’t just go and buy another oval so we’ve got to really use the facilities that we have to the absolute best of their potential and this is certainly one way of doing that,” North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson said at the opening ceremony.

The main beneficiary of a synthetic surface at Cammeray Park will be the 1,000 member North Sydney United Football Club; “We can play in all weathers. We won’t have to postpone training sessions. We can have make up matches for the seniors during the week and it will help the association run a smoother competition as well,” North Sydney United Club President Simon Cox said.

Northern Suburbs Football Association first raised the concept of a synthetic pitch with North Sydney Council back in 2006 and while it’s taken this long to become a reality, the first facility of its kind in the North Sydney Council area is a testament to the persistence and vision of all involved.

While Council bore most of the cost, the State government also contributed, “We got our local members involved. We lobbied. Our staff are excellent at applying for grants and so we were really lucky to get that $25,000,” Ms Gibson said.

In an Australia first, the Cammeray Park pitch includes an innovative cork as well as rubber infill designed to keep the surface temperature down; “I think going forward there’ll be more of it because it’s more environmentally friendly and I think it helps with the truer nature of the surface,” Mr Cox said.

With Cammeray Park up and running there are now five synthetic fields in the Northern Suburbs Association area, helping to alleviate congestion and providing users with a better football experience.

Simon Cox is not only North Sydney United President but also a passionate player; “It’s a beautiful surface. It’s probably a bit slower than you think but it’s fantastic. It’s so true there’s no excuse not to play football.”

-By Mark Chester