NSW Office of Sport announced the new $6.7 million athletics track at the Sydney Academy of Sport which will see the track scheduled to open towards the end of 2026.
“[It’s] fantastic news for the Northern Beaches athletics community,” Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said in a statement.
“The new world-class athletics track at the Sydney Academy of Sport will be the home of athletics on the Northern Beaches and the birthplace of Olympic dreams.”
The track (commonly known as the Narrabeen Athletics Track) will include a new World Athletics (WA) compliant synthetic athletics track with a moisture-resilient track surface, a new asphalt sub-base, drainage and stormwater system upgrades, and accessibility improvements.
Designs are scheduled to be completed by next month, with a track builder to be appointed in November 2025 and construction to begin in December 2025.
“We welcome the government’s commitment, not only in securing funding for the project, but committing to a timeline to provide a world-class athletics track,” Andrew Jauncey, President of Manly Warringah Little Athletics, told Manly Observer.
“We’re happy with the timeline and for the track to be completed in time for the 26/27 summer season. It will be a real boost to the sport on the Northern Beaches. We’ve seen firsthand the impact of not having this facility, from the athletics community to the impact on school carnivals.”
Manly Observer previously reported that the track showed signs of ‘bubbling’ which was caused by water damage as the new track trapped moisture against the 30-year-old subsurface, causing it to crumble and become unsafe.
The insurance company covered the cost of repairs (an undisclosed amount), while the government committed to funding the gap to construct a new atheletics track with enhanced protection against flooding which the area is prone to.
Until the new track opens in the third quarter of 2026, the athletics community will continue to use the temporary six-lane, 400-metre grass athletics track at Oval 1.
“If the Sydney Academy of Sport Athletics Track project was a hurdle race, we’d have just cleared the second hurdle,” Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan said.
“There’s still a long way to go, but we now know how long the race is. The community has shown it has the stamina to go the distance and will definitely be there at the finish to celebrate the track’s completion.”
Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby echoed Mr Regan’s words.
“We’ve been waiting for a finish line since the track was closed, and it’s a relief to know it’s in sight,” she said.
“Our athletes have been resilient and resourceful, but now we need swift delivery of this project, so they can finally return to the world-class track they deserve.”
Once the track opens towards the end of 2026, NSW Sport will be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
Read our earlier coverage:
Track repair delays another obstacle on road to Olympics for local kids
