Should I lay or should I grow: Norman Griffiths Oval upgrade reaches fork in the road

If and when the dust ever settles on the Norman Griffiths Oval (NGO) upgrade, the playing surface will either remain as natural turf or become a synthetic pitch. 

Working out whether to lay or grow is the next challenge facing Ku-ring-gai Council, which has already sunk $7 million into the troubled project, and finds itself fending off lobbyists determined to have their way on what’s under foot when the whistle finally blows.

There is another $5.4 million in the kitty to get through the pitch phase, and next Thursday - at an extraordinary meeting - councillors will be faced with the fake or real dilemma.

West Pymble FC President Kieron FitzPatrick has previously told the Lorikeet the club backs a synthetic turf upgrade, saying a natural turf pitch “degrades to be almost unplayable”.

However some residents claim the installation of synthetic turf at NGO would be an environmental hazard. They include Ku-ring-gai local and environmental consultant Bron Hanna, who told the Lorikeet that in heavy rainfall events, microplastics from synthetic turf can end up in waterways.

She also said natural turf playing surfaces such as Norman Griffiths Oval were important for urban cooling, particularly in a changing climate.

“Ovals are really important cooling carbon sinks right now, and [the council is considering]  replacing them with an urban heat island.”