- Balmain Road Sporting Ground (DA/2025/1052) – one plastic grass field
- Waterfront Oval Sporting Ground (DA/2025/1053) – one plastic grass field
Comments due 9 February 2026 at the following QR codes:
| Balmain Road Sporting Ground | Waterfront Drive Sporting Ground |
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To download documents from Council’s website – use these links:
Balmain Road field DA documents from Council’s website secure WeTransfer link
Waterfront Drive field DA documents from Council’s website secure WeTransfer link
References
Scientific data indicates the negative impacts of plastic grass for the health of sports players, the community and marine and terrestrial life. Click on the article titles below for full details.
Source: Breast Cancer Prevention Partners – San Francisco, CA For 30 years, we have been the leading science-based policy and advocacy organization working to eliminate our exposure to toxic chemicals and other environmental exposures linked to breast cancer.
Summary: Artificial turf fields contain hundreds of toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer and other health problems, with young girls and athletes at highest risk.
Article October 1, 2025
Source: realestate.com.au by Lydia Kellner
Summary: The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) in New South Wales is at the forefront of this shift, proposing a ban on artificial turf in new builds and on nature strips.
It argues that the impact of artificial grass is both harmful to people and the environment, and is seeking community consultation ahead of the move.
Fake grass, according to the council, disintegrates into microplastics, which subsequently make their way into waterways – and can even potentially end up being inhaled by people.
Article October 17, 2025
Source: The Daily Telegraph by Jessica Wang
Summary: A new inquiry will probe the impact of microplastics and forever chemicals on women’s reproductive health, with Coalition health spokesperson Anne Ruston urging proactive action.
Date: November 18, 2025
Source: Ichan School of Medicine at Mt Sinai
Summary: The Children’s Environmental Health Center of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai strongly discourages the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces and fields due to the uncertainties surrounding the safety of these products and the potential for dangerous heat and chemical exposures. In addition, recent studies demonstrating the presence of PFAS and microplastics in these products raise significant concerns for both human health and environmental contamination.
Article May 29, 2025
Source: University of MA, Lowell
Summary: This fact sheet introduces some of the considerations that are relevant to evaluating natural grass and artificial turf playing surfaces. For more of TURI’s research on artificial turf and natural grass click here.
Article August 2020
Source: The Guardian
Summary: Research raises more questions over safety of material that health advocates say is made with dangerous levels of ‘forever chemicals’
Article March 16, 2024