Queenwood School Sporting Facilities

e, Geoff and Joanne MacGregor, residents at 86A Wearden Road, are writing to express our strong objection to the proposed development at 1100 Oxford Falls Road. Our objections are deeply rooted in our family's long-standing heritage in the Oxford Falls Valley, where my husband's grandfather settled in 1911. This connection spans five generations, and our family has witnessed significant environmental and community changes over the years.
Summary of Key Concerns:
Loss of Semi-Rural Character: The development contradicts the Warringah Local Environmental Plan and threatens the peaceful, semi-rural nature of our neighborhood with the introduction of large-scale facilities and floodlights.
Tree Removal: The removal of 120 trees will lead to a 75% loss of canopy cover, fundamentally altering the landscape, increasing runoff, and jeopardizing local wildlife habitats.
Impact on Wildlife and Livestock: The proposed facilities will disrupt habitats for local species and increase stress on livestock and pets from noise and construction activities.
Traffic Congestion and Safety Risks: Increased traffic, particularly during peak school hours, will exacerbate existing congestion and pose safety risks to pedestrians, especially children.
Noise and Light Pollution: The operational hours extending into evenings and weekends will introduce excessive noise and light pollution, disrupting the community's tranquility.
Inadequate Consultation: The community engagement process has been insufficient, with many residents unaware of the development. We request an extension for submissions to allow for greater community awareness and participation.
In summary, the proposed development poses unacceptable risks to local residents’ safety, animals’ well-being, and the preservation of our community’s values. We urge the Independent Planning Commission to thoroughly consider our objections and reject the application.For further details, please refer to the attached letter.Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
Sincerely,
Geoff & Joanne MacGregor
86A Wearden Rd, Oxford Falls

I am a long-term local resident and have been involved in hockey for over four decades, with my daughter participating in the sport for the past 10 years. Throughout that time, one issue has remained constant: the absence of a full-sized synthetic hockey pitch on the Northern Beaches.

At present, players from this region are required to travel significant distances several times each week simply to train and compete. For many families, this means long commutes and late-night sessions that are neither practical nor sustainable. This situation restricts participation for both junior and senior players and places unnecessary pressure on local sporting communities.

The proposed multipurpose outdoor pitch would directly address this longstanding gap in local sporting infrastructure. While initiated by Queenwood School, the facility would not operate in isolation. Outside school hours, it would provide valuable access for community sporting organisations, including local hockey clubs. There is strong demand for such access, and clubs would actively collaborate to ensure the facility is used to its full capacity.

This development would deliver the first full-sized synthetic surface suitable for hockey within the region. That is a significant and overdue investment in community sport. It would reduce travel burdens, increase participation, and support the continued growth of hockey and other field sports such as soccer across the LGA.

Importantly, this proposal is not solely about school infrastructure. It represents a shared community asset that responds to demonstrated demand and strengthens local sporting opportunities for all age groups.

For these reasons, I strongly support the proposal and urge its approval.