06/08/2026
If you thought parking was bad now, Willoughby Council are proposing reduced parking times, a reduction in parking spaces and a reduction in access to streets around the netball courts (officially known as Bi-Centennial Park) where clubs play on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Northern Suburbs Netball Association (NSNA) object to these changes.
If you also object to these changes and would like Willoughby City Council to provide a better solution please copy and paste the below and email it to: [email protected] Attn: Harry Huang, Traffic and Transport Engineer
Dear Mr Huang of Willoughby City Council,
I write to formally object to the proposed parking changes affecting the Willoughby Leisure Centre car parks, the grassed car park on Small Street, Flat Rock Reserve car park, Pendey Street, Artarmon Road and Small Street. I am a user and resident of the netball courts at Bicentennial Reserve.
My objection is grounded in concerns that were raised at the time the WLC redevelopment was first presented. The current proposal only confirms our concern: parking in this precinct is already at capacity, and increased demand from the new facility, combined with the netball season from March to September, will only intensify pressure. Reducing or restricting existing spaces under these conditions is not a workable solution.
I ask Council to properly investigate any alternatives including those previously proposed, rather than proceeding to restrict access to existing car spaces:
• A second storey on the upper or lower WLC car park. This would not affect residents' shadow lines and presents an opportunity to incorporate a vertical garden, contributing to greening and cooling the precinct while substantially increasing capacity.
• Utilising the grassed area behind the Incinerator for additional parking, using eco-friendly permeable pathways/surfaces of the kind successfully implemented at Ku-ring-gai Netball Association and Hills District Netball Association. This approach expands capacity without a heavy environmental footprint.
I request that Council undertake further research into these options before implementing any changes that reduce or restrict accessibility to existing car parking. Given the scale of investment in the new Leisure Centre, it is essential that supporting infrastructure — particularly parking — is expanded to match anticipated demand, not diminished.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals further with Council.
Yours sincerely,