The Sydney school oval, the two-metre fence and the $585,000 demand
Residents in Sydney's eastern suburbs are facing a $585,000 demand from the NSW Department of Education to restore public access to a school oval that has been used for over sixty years. The dispute centers around the Rose Bay Secondary College grounds, which have recently been fenced off, limiting community access. Waverley Council is contesting the terms of the agreement, arguing that the costs are unreasonable given the area's need for public recreational space.
- ▪The NSW Department of Education has demanded $585,000 from Waverley Council to restore public access to the Rose Bay Secondary College oval.
- ▪The grounds have been used by residents for over six decades for recreation and exercise before being fenced off last month.
- ▪Waverley Council officials claim the financial terms are designed to prevent any agreement, given the high demand for public recreational space in the area.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-21T09:30:00Z","datePublished":"2026-05-21T09:30:00Z","description":"What was once an open neighbourhood playing field is now at the centre of a $585,000 dispute over public space and security.","headline":"The Sydney school oval, the two-metre fence and the $585,000 demand","keywords":"City life, For subscribers, Education, Sydney councils, Planning, Rose Bay, Sydney, Waverley, Schools, Just in SMH, OOHSydney","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Barwell","jobTitle":"Urban affairs…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.