Ku-ring-gai Council is currently building a synthetic oval at Norman Griffith's oval. There has been significant public opposition to this plan, particularly around impacts on the environment, some which are outlined here.
The Chief Scientists report into synthetic fields cited research that showed synthetic fields are a significant source of microplastic and chemical pollution on surrounding waterways – including leachates from the breakdown of the shockpad as well as plastic grass fragmentation and infill movement.
It also recommended that these fields should NOT be built in flood prone areas (as Norman Griffith is) due to microplastic movement in extreme flood conditions rendering any mitigation measures useless.
Please sign the petition below to call on Kuring-Gai Council to monitor microplastic movement at the oval, which is built on a creek that runs into the Lane Cove River.
While it is too late to save Norman Griffiths, it's not too late to monitor the creek for microplastics. This will not only ensure that microplastic movement will have to be dealt with, it will also provide research needed to assess the impacts of these fields on fragile environments.
Given the risks of this project being built in a flood detention basin, and a project that is climbing towards the $4 million dollars, it is not surely not unreasonable for ratepayers to ask council to pay for monitoring of the site.
PETITION
Dear Council.
Given significant documented concerns about the potential impact of microplastic migration from synthetic fields on the surrounding environment, I am calling on Council to
1. Monitor microplastics in Quarry Creek, establishing a baseline before construction begins and on a regular basis thereafter.
2. Make these measurements publicly available so residents can be assured Quarry Creek is not polluted.
