The NSW Parliament is being asked to to urgently pass the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 and give long-term certainty to clubs operating on Crown land.
Community and sporting organisations are calling on the NSW Parliament to urgently pass the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 and give long-term certainty to clubs, sporting bodies and other community institutions operating on Crown land.
For decades, these organisations have opened their doors to the public and enriched the communities around them. Across the state, bowling greens, golf courses, tennis facilities, surf clubs and community meeting spaces on Crown land have become second homes for people from all walks of life. They are places where older Australians stay physically active, people experiencing loneliness connect with others, and veterans, migrants, people with disability and newer community members find a place to belong.
However, a combination of ambiguous laws and recent complex court precedents have left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over some of these sites — and over the workers, volunteers, members and local residents who rely on them.
ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant says the legal issues may be abstract, but the impact on the ground is real.
“If these places fall out of community hands, local people lose more than land — they lose jobs, volunteers, junior sport, affordable social spaces and trusted venues that keep people active, connected and supported close to home,” says Ms Riant.
“We commend the Minister for Lands and Property for introducing a Bill that recognises this risk and seeks to provide certainty for the community and sporting organisations that have demonstrated, over many decades, their value to the people of NSW. We also welcome the Opposition Leader’s commitment to passing this important Bill.”
Rebecca joined 2GB Breakfast Show host Ben Fordham today to discuss the issue, which can be heard here.
Tennis NSW, Bowls NSW, Golf NSW, Sport NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and ClubsNSW are all urging the NSW Parliament to pass the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 as a matter of priority so that clubs, sporting organisations and the communities they serve can plan for the future with confidence.
Tennis NSW CEO Olivia Thornton says the ongoing uncertainty surrounding community sporting facilities on Crown land extends well beyond the land itself.
“Many of these facilities have served their communities for generations, providing places where people can play, volunteer, connect and belong. Uncertainty about their future threatens the volunteers, grassroots programs and social connections that help communities to thrive,” says Ms Thornton.
“At a time of increasing social and economic pressure, it is more important than ever that sporting organisations have the long-term certainty they need to continue investing in their facilities and delivering lasting benefits for people right across the state.”
Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser says uncertainty surrounding community golf courses puts at risk facilities that play a vital role in the health, wellbeing and social fabric of communities across NSW.
“For people of all ages, golf clubs provide far more than a place to play sport. They help people stay active, build friendships, maintain a sense of purpose and remain connected to their communities,” says Mr Fraser.
“That is why it is so important that these facilities have the certainty they need to continue investing in their future and serving local communities for generations to come.”
Bowls NSW CEO Tim Rowe says bowling clubs have long been a cornerstone of community life, making it vital that their future is secured for the tens of thousands of people who regularly rely on them.
“Every week, lawn bowlers step onto greens across NSW not just to play an inclusive sport, but to catch up with friends, strengthen social connections, improve their health and enjoy the sense of camaraderie that has made bowling clubs an iconic part of Australian community life for generations. That’s why preserving these venues is so important,” says Mr Rowe.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce says: “Surf Life Saving NSW have 129 surf life saving clubs that over 86,000 volunteers rely on for emergency response readiness, lifesaving, training and social cohesion.
“To maintain this our volunteers require security of tenancy and confidence that their surf life saving clubs and their operations are future safe.”
If these places fall out of community hands, local people lose more than land — they lose jobs, volunteers, junior sport, affordable social spaces and trusted venues that keep people active, connected and supported close to home
– Rebecca Riant, ClubsNSW CEO
