Sydney Council Upgrades Sports Facilities to Support Thousands of Local Athletes

The City of Sydney approved a $120 million redevelopment of the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre that will start construction in August 2026 and add two new 50-metre pools plus expanded gym space.

Local clubs have reported waiting lists for lane hire stretching into 2027, a direct result of membership growth in swimming and water polo across the inner west and eastern suburbs. The timing matters because state sporting bodies have shifted more junior development programs to Sydney venues after regional centres cut back on coaching staff.

Upgrades target Moore Park and Parramatta

Work at Moore Park will replace the ageing synthetic turf on two fields used by Eastern Suburbs clubs and add floodlights rated for night training until 9 pm. At the same time, Parramatta City Council is completing a $35 million indoor court complex in Granville that will open in October and serve netball and basketball teams from the Cumberland area. Both projects include extra parking and public transport links to reduce the car traffic that has clogged surrounding streets on weekends.

Figures released by the Greater Sydney Sports Commission last month show 2.8 million visits to council-run sports facilities in the 2025-26 financial year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous period. Average daily bookings at the Sydney Cricket Ground nets reached 340 in June, the highest monthly total recorded since the centre reopened after its 2023 refurbishment.

Next steps for users

Bookings for the new Granville courts open online on 15 July through the Parramatta council portal. Athletes and coaches seeking lane time at the Olympic Park pool after the upgrade are advised to register now on the City of Sydney recreation site, where priority will be given to registered clubs until December 2026.