County Road Reserve in Belrose is set to be transferred to Northern Beaches authorities, removing a key land ownership barrier and clearing the way for future planning and investment at one of the area’s important sporting spaces.
Read: Upgrades at County Road Reserve Left in Limbo
The 1.72-hectare reserve on Forest Way is the home ground of Wakehurst Football Club, which has around 2,000 players, and forms part of the Northern Beaches’ wider open space network. The transfer is intended to place the reserve under local ownership, opening the door to upgrading and expanding its recreational use as demand for quality sporting infrastructure grows across the Northern Beaches.
A Key Sporting Space For Belrose
County Road Reserve has long been identified as an important sporting asset and an opportunity to help meet growing demand for quality sporting infrastructure. The reserve is used by Wakehurst Football Club, while local sporting organisations have identified the site as a key opportunity as participation in community sport continues to rise.
The NSW announcement also highlighted increasing participation among women and girls across the Northern Beaches. Local ownership is expected to provide greater scope for the reserve’s recreational use to be upgraded and expanded.
The announcement does not specify that individual upgrades at the reserve have already been approved or funded. Instead, the transfer is intended to remove an ownership barrier that has affected plans for improved sports facilities at the site. The immediate change is the proposed transfer of ownership, while the scope and timing of future improvements have yet to be detailed.
Transfer Clears A Barrier To Future Investment
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully described County Road Reserve as the type of community asset that could thrive under local ownership, pointing to its use by local families, players, and volunteers. He said putting the reserve into local hands would allow the site to grow alongside the needs of the Northern Beaches community.
Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan described the transfer as an important step, saying State ownership had been a key barrier to progressing better sports facilities at County Road. According to Mr Regan, the change removes that barrier and clears the way for further planning and investment.
The NSW announcement also linked the transfer to wider open-space initiatives across Sydney, including $40 million through the Better Open Spaces Program and $520 million for open space and active transport in Transport Oriented Development precincts. For Belrose, the transfer puts the focus on what comes next for County Road Reserve.
Read: Belrose Bushland Sites Cleared for Private Market
The change would give local authorities ownership of the Forest Way sporting site, while future planning and investment will shape any changes to its recreational use and sporting facilities.
With State ownership identified as a key barrier to improved sports facilities, the transfer marks a change in how the reserve will be managed. The NSW announcement says it clears the way for planning and investment at the site.
Published 20-September-2026
