Sportsfield photo

Seasonal Allocation of a Sportsfield

What is an Allocation?

Each season, local sporting groups are allocated sportsfields for their sporting competitions and training activities. This process books the sportsfields from 4pm on the weekdays and 8am on the weekends for our sporting groups. An Allocation Document is prepared by Council at the start of each season, the allocations are a weekly pattern of use. View the Winter 2024 Allocation Document or Summer 2024/25 Allocation Document.

Further information on the allocation process, after hours issues, sharing load across a field, noise, seasonal changeover, synthetic sportsgrounds and more; can be viewed on the Northern Beaches Council Seasonal Sports User Manual and Conditions of Use for Allocated Sports.

Key Dates

The dates of each season are generally based on the following:

  • Winter - 1st Saturday in April to the last Sunday in August. 
  • Summer - 2nd Saturday in September to the 2nd last Sunday in March.

2024/2025 Summer Season: Saturday 14 September 2024 until Sunday 23 March 2025

2025 Winter Season - Saturday 5 April 2025 until Sunday 31 August 2025

Day-to-day use of the Sportsfields

Our sportsfield operations can be viewed on the Northern Beaches Council Seasonal Sports User Manual and Conditions of Use for Allocated Sports document.

Sportsfield Lighting

The sportsfields that have floodlighting, are operated through an automatic SMS text message from an authorised user’s mobile phone. Please use the Instructions for SMS control of the Sportsfield Lighting document for the lighting codes and to operate the lights via a mobile phone. Most lights are programmed to turn off at 9.30pm, sporting activities are to cease by 9.15pm to ensure all participants are safely off the field prior to the lights turning off. Lights should only be activated when your sport is actually on the field.

If two sports groups are using the same field in the evening and you are the second user, please ensure you activate your lights via SMS before the first user turns them off. If you do not activate the lights in time and they turn off, the lights cannot be activated until they are fully cooled which could take 20-30 minutes.

If there are any issues with the sportsfield lighting during use contact Council’s After Hours Officer on 1300 434 434, the Officer is authorised to turn on the lights and will discuss the option of arranging an electrician to attend the site if they cannot.

Please report/email any lighting issues to Open Space Bookings with all the relevant details as soon as possible (preferably by 10am the following morning) to allow us time to rectify the issue for the upcoming night.

The fees for the use of the lights are listed in the adopted fees and charges.

Wet Weather

Council may close a sportsfield due to wet weather or other ground conditions. All groups must confirm sportsfield availability prior to use, at the wet weather status Northern Beaches Council webpage. All use should be suspended or cancelled during adverse weather conditions such as electrical storms and excessively heavy rain. Wet weather information is updated on the following schedule:

  • Weekdays - 8am and 3pm
  • Weekends and public holidays - 7am

Line Marking

Council undertakes one line marking for each field at the start of the season based on each sports request. Ongoing maintenance is the responsibility of the allocated sports group. Any line marking undertaken by the sports groups may include a growth retardant such as Primo (at 2ml per litre). Herbicides which kill the grass such as Roundup and Buster are not to be used. 

Buildings, Toilets, Keys and Bins

Any group that occupies a building requires a formal agreement with Council. All allocated sports groups will have access to onsite amenities. It is the allocated sporting groups responsibility to ensure toilets are open and available for use at all times. View the Northern Beaches Council Sportsground Toilets, Keys and Cleansing Document for more information for each site.

All areas including canteens, change rooms, toilets and gates are clean, locked and lights turned off after use. There are specific bins allocated to sporting groups each season, these bins are to be kept in the assigned storage location, view the bins allocated to a Sportsground document for the details for each site. When required bins are to be placed around the field and brought in at the end of each day and locked in the storage location. Any issues with the buildings, toilets and bins should be reported to Council immediately.

Vehicle Access

Permission from Council is required for any vehicles to load and unload equipment at a sportsfield. Vehicles cannot park on a sportsfield (grass or synthetic) or surrounding areas without a formal permit. 

Vehicles must not block pathways or impede pedestrian access. Accessible car parking spaces and areas in front of our slip rails and/or emergency vehicle access gates must be kept clear at all times.

Risk Management

All sporting groups are responsibility for the safety of their participants and attendees. A risk assessment of the sportsfield and related facilities is to be undertaken prior to each use to ensure that they are safe and suitable for the intended activities.

Access to a Sportsfield

Access to a sportsfield can be impacted by a number of things including events, capital works and maintenance. The dates and times sportsfields are not available in the 2024 season are listed below, this may be altered at any time. Further information on capital works program affecting sportsfields webpage

SportsfieldDate/s and Times - not available (as of 30/01/2024)

Allambie Heights Oval

  • Allambie Heights Oval is unavailable on Sunday 15 December 2024 due to Major Event.
  • Allambie Heights Field 1 is unavailable from Friday 3 to Friday 31 January 2025 due to field maintenance.
  • Allambie Heights Oval is unavailable from 12pm - 10pm on Friday 7 & 14 February 2025 due to the Council Event - World Food Markets.

Aquatic Reserve

  • Council Chemical Cleanout is being held in the lower car park only from 4pm Friday 6 September to 5pm Sunday 8 September 2024. Field 1 is still available for use.
  • Aquatic Diamonds 2-5 are unavailable for the 2024/25 summer allocation period due to a major capital works / maintenance project.

Ararat Reserve

  • Ararat Reserve is unavailable on Saturday 14 December 2024 due to Council Event - Christmas Carols.

Boondah Reserve

  • Boondah Reserve Field 3 is unavailable from 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday 15 September 2024 due to an event.
  • Boondah Field 5A is unavailable from Saturday 30 November to Saturday 21 December 2024 due to the Circus.

Brookvale Oval

  • Brookvale Oval is unavailable for use from 25 to 27 October 2024 due to the Council Event - Open-Air Cinema.

Careel Bay

  • Careel Bay Mini Fields are unavailable for use on 25-26 January 2025 due to a Major Event.

Collaroy Plateau 

  • Collaroy Plateau Park & Cricket Nets are unavailable from 12pm - 10pm on Friday 1 & 8 November 2024 due to the Council Event - World Food Markets.

Cromer Park

  • Council Reuse Recycle Event in Car Park only from 8am Friday 8 November to 5pm Sunday 10 November 2024. All Fields are still available for use.

Griffith Park

  • Griffith Park is unavailable on from 7am to 9:30am on Sunday 25 August 2024.

JFP Netball Hard Courts

  • JFP Netball Hard Courts may be unavailable for use on 7 & 8 March 2025 due to Council Event - International Women's Markets. These dates are backup dates only.

JFP Netball Grass Courts

  • JFP Netball Grass Courts are unavailable from 5.30am – 9am on Saturday 1 February 2025 due to the  Council Event - Sun Run and road closures. The fields are then available for use after 9am.
  • JFP Netball Grass Courts are allocated to Manly Ultimate Frisbee League from 8am to 5pm on Sunday 16 February 2025.

JFP – Denzil, Old Reub and Reub Hudson

  • JFP – Denzil, Old Reub and Reub Hudson Fields are unavailable from 5.30am – 9am on Saturday 1 February 2025 due to the Council Event - Sun Run and road closures. The fields are then available for use after 9am.
  • JFP – Denzil, Old Reub and Reub Hudson are allocated to Manly Ultimate Frisbee League from 8am to 5pm on Sunday 16 February 2025

JFP – Weldon, Mike Pawley, and Frank Gray 

  • Manly Warringah Wolves has allocation until Thurs 19 September 2024.
  • Cricket has allocation until Sunday 30 March 2025.

Keirle Park

  • Keirle Park Fields 1, 2 & 3 are unavailable for use from 7am - 2pm on Saturday 31 August 2024 due to Manly Roos Rugby event.
  • Keirle Park Fields 2 & 3 unavailable from Thursday 27 February to Wednesday 19 March 2025 due to Major event

Lakeside Park

  • Lakeside Park Field & Cricket Nets unavailable on 30 August and 1 September 2024 due to Council Event - Picnic in the Park.
  • Lakeside Park Field & Cricket Nets unavailable on 30 November and 1 December 2024 due to Council Event - Christmas Markets.
  • Lakeside Park Field & Cricket Nets are unavailable on 20 & 21 December 2024 due to Major Event.
  • Lakeside Park Field & Cricket Nets are unavailable on Saturday 25 January 2025 due to Council Event - Australia Day Eve Open Air Cinema.

Lionel Watts 

  • Lionel Watts Fields 1-5 are available for use on Saturday 7 September 2024 however parking will be limited due to a Major Event at the Frenchs Forest Showgrounds.
  • Lionel Watts Oval Field 1 is unavailable for use from 1pm - 6pm on Sunday 15 September 2024 due to an event.
  • Lionel Watts Oval Field 1 is unavailable on 21-22 December 2024 due to Major Event. 
  • Lionel Watts Oval Fields 1-5 are unavailable from 2pm - 9.30pm on 22 December 2024 due to Major Even.
  • Lionel Watts Oval Fields 1 & 2 unavailable on Friday 24 January 2025 due to Council Event - Food Truck Party.

LM Graham Reserve

  • Cricket has the allocation until Sunday 30 March 2025.

Manly Oval

  • Manly Oval unavailable from 7pm on Sunday 1 December to 9pm Friday 6 December 2024 due to the Council Event - Christmas Carol Concert.
  • Cricket has the allocation until Sunday 30 March 2025.

Millers Reserve

  • Millers Reserve is unavailable from 12pm - 10pm on 15 & 22 November 2024 due to Council Event -World Food Markets.

Narrabeen Sports High School – Turf Field

  • Narrabeen Sports High School – Turf Field is unavailable due to Council Car Boot Sale on Sunday 25 August 2024 and Sunday 24 November 2024 from 4.30am to 3pm.
  • This field currently has limited availability due to work on the school grounds.

Newport Oval

  • Newport Oval Field 1 & Cricket Nets are unavailable from 12pm - 10pm on Friday 11 & 18 October 2024 due to Council Event - World Food Markets.

Nolan Reserve

  • Nolan Reserve Fields 1 to 7 (including Minis) has been allocated to MWTA from 8am to 4pm on 1st December 2024.

North Narrabeen Reserve – Rat Park Field 1

  • Rat Park Field 1 is unavailable between 31 October 2024 and 14 March 2025 due to major renovations and field maintenance.

North Narrabeen Reserve – Field 6

  • Field 6 unavailable from 7am to 10:30am on Sunday 25 August 2024.

Seaforth Oval

  • A new turf cricket wicket being is being constructed at Seaforth Oval between Field 1 and 2. The centre field area will be unavailable between 1 September 2024 and 1 April 2025, however training activities can he held on the edge of the field.
  • Seaforth Oval carpark is being used as overflow carpark (truck parking) for Council Manly Jazz, from Wednesday 18 to Monday 23 September 2024.

Tania Park

  • Tania Park Fields 1, 2 & 3 are unavailable on 16 & 17 November 2024 due to a Major Event.

Permission from Council is required for any vehicles to access the sportsfield to load and unload equipment. Vehicles cannot park on any of the grassed areas of a sportsfield without a formal permit. 

Fees for Seasonal Use

There are a number Council adopted fees and charges that apply to seasonal sports groups. All allocated sports will be charged a sportsfield user fee per member for the use of the sportsfields. Use of the sportsfields before 4pm on weekdays must be booked and is subject to additional fees.

Summer Season 2024/25 Fees

Sportsfield user fee

Cost
(per player)

Seasonal use by community sports group – Junior players$15.60
Seasonal use by community sports group – Junior players – short season (up to a maximum of 12 weeks)$9.40
Seasonal use by community sports group – Senior players$21.10
Seasonal use by community sports group – Senior players – short season (up to a maximum of 12 weeks)$12.70

 

Contact information

Sportsfield enquiries
For enquiries in regard to sportsgrounds and other Council Sport and Recreation