Western Sydney Sidelined by Sports Ground Shortfall

New research by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has blown the whistle on a dire shortage of community sporting infrastructure in the region.

With Greater Western Sydney absorbing the lion’s share of Sydney’s population growth, by 2041 the region will need an additional 682 hectares of recreational space – the equivalent of 912 rugby league fields – to meet the needs of the projected 3.58 million residents.

But Dialogue CEO Adam Leto said there were opportunities to address the “dire” sports infrastructure shortfall before it was too late by opening up access to existing facilities.

“By unlocking the gates on underutilised school ovals, TAFE grounds, university fields and government-owned land, we can create access to the space residents in Western Sydney need,” Mr Leto said.

“Joint use agreements for existing sports facilities are a real game-changer, and the playbook already exists. Programs like Share Our Space should be extended to keep school grounds open for community sport after hours, on weekends and during school holidays.

“This sort of solution doesn’t require bucket-loads of dollars, it’s simply about sweating some of our existing community and public assets a bit harder.”

The Dialogue’s research shows the shortage is not just felt when it comes to sports fields and courts. There is also growing pressure on recreational and sports centres and swimming pools. Currently, GWS has a total of 1,204 community swimming pools and recreational centres, plus approximately 1,711 sports fields and courts.

With the population of GWS forecast to increase by 27.9 per cent to 2041, the region would require an additional 812 sport fields, courts, recreational sports centres and swimming pools to keep pace with population growth, just to maintain the same level of access.

In Western Sydney, Liverpool and Camden LGAs are acutely feeling the shortage of sports infrastructure, exacerbated by rapid population growth in South West Sydney.

Other key recommendations from the Dialogue include establishing a dedicated Western Sydney Open Space Fund to bankroll new facilities in high-growth corridors and to transform existing facilities into more multi-purpose and all-weather facilities.

“As the region grows and housing density increases, the need to plan and deliver more public parks and community infrastructure is going to become more pressing,” Mr Leto said. 

“Western Sydney has a deep connection with sport and is a big part of our identity. It’s often used as a vehicle for social engagement, to help build confidence and bridge cultural divides, and we’ve seen that manifest on the biggest sporting stages in the world.

“If we want to continue to enjoy those sorts of outcomes, then we need to prioritise funding and access for the facilities that make it easier for kids to have a run or throw a ball.”

Findings from the Dialogue’s analysis using data from local councils, the NSW Spatial Collaboration Portal and the Committee for Sydney reveal a chronic shortage of sporting infrastructure in Greater Western Sydney, including:  

Sports fields and courts:

• Using the industry standard, 1ha:1000 residents benchmark, GWS will need an additional 682 hectares of sporting space to keep pace with population growth.

• Parramatta has just one sports field for every 4,439 residents
• By comparison, Cumberland and Camden have 1:1100 ratio for fields and courts

Swimming pools and recreational centres:

• Using the provision of one swimming pool/recreational centre per 1000 residents, Liverpool and Camden residents have access to five times fewer aquatic and sports centres per person than residents in the Blue Mountains and Wollondilly, exacerbated by rapid population growth in South West Sydney.

• Of the Western Sydney LGA’s, Camden, Liverpool and Blacktown residents have the least access to sporting facilities.
• Liverpool: 1:5,334
• Camden: 1:4,531
• Blacktown: 1:4,510
  
  

Download the full briefing here: 2026 Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Sports Facilities Shortfall Briefing.pdf