Reviewing our Sport Strategy and Implementation Plan

Tell us your sporting story or share your ideas

• Junior Tennis ISLTA Junior Branch

  by Grahame, 9 months ago

  The ISLTA JB Illawarra Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association (ISLTA) was proudly formed in 1911 and the association has co-ordinated district tennis across the St George and Sutherland Shire areas ever since.

  Even though the word Illawarra is now usually associated with the near south coast of the state, the name Illawarra has remained as it is a part of tennis history in the Sydney metropolitan area.

  ISLTA is affiliated with the New South Wales Hardcourt Tennis Association and Tennis New South Wales, through which we are affiliated with Tennis Australia.

  
  

  ISLTA Junior Branch supports young players (up to the age... Continue reading

  The ISLTA JB Illawarra Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association (ISLTA) was proudly formed in 1911 and the association has co-ordinated district tennis across the St George and Sutherland Shire areas ever since.

  Even though the word Illawarra is now usually associated with the near south coast of the state, the name Illawarra has remained as it is a part of tennis history in the Sydney metropolitan area.

  ISLTA is affiliated with the New South Wales Hardcourt Tennis Association and Tennis New South Wales, through which we are affiliated with Tennis Australia.

  
  

  ISLTA Junior Branch supports young players (up to the age of 19) in the St George and Sutherland Shire areas by providing outstanding competitions. These competitions include:

  • Saturday Morning Junior Unisex UTR

  • Interdistrict

  • Challenge Cup

  • Illawarra Suburbs LTA Open Ladder Board

  ISLTA Junior Branch is run by volunteer committee members who are dedicated to making your child's competition experience both fun and challenging.

  Our Association is a not-for-profit entity and is run by volunteers.

  Our main focus is to organise tennis competitions to support junior players across the St George and Sutherland Shire areas.

• Cricket nets for Woronora Heights Oval

  by Joey05, 9 months ago
  Hi there,

  The kids/teenagers of Woronora Heights are in desperate need of a couple of decent cricket nets at the Oval. Games of cricket are played there each weekend of the summer, and there really should be nets available to help with the training and warming up before the game. With a little bit of work, there is plenty of space to include a net or two. There isn’t too many facilities nearby for teenagers of the area and carrying a cricket bag on their bikes to ride to Engadine isn’t safe nor practical. Teenagers need a range of local... Continue reading

  Hi there,

  The kids/teenagers of Woronora Heights are in desperate need of a couple of decent cricket nets at the Oval. Games of cricket are played there each weekend of the summer, and there really should be nets available to help with the training and warming up before the game. With a little bit of work, there is plenty of space to include a net or two. There isn’t too many facilities nearby for teenagers of the area and carrying a cricket bag on their bikes to ride to Engadine isn’t safe nor practical. Teenagers need a range of local and free facilities to keep them active, healthy and busy. Please take a moment to consider this. Thank you.

• Pickleball is for ALL ages!

  by Felizdecomo, 9 months ago
  

  Pickleball isn’t just booming — it’s exploding into a global phenomenon, and the Shire is feeling that surge firsthand. What started as a quirky paddle sport has become the go-to outlet for people chasing fun, fitness, and a bit of friendly competition. Courts that were once quiet are now buzzing with players of all ages, from absolute beginners to ex-racquet-sport veterans who’ve swapped their old gear for a paddle and a wiffle ball. The energy is addictive, the laughter is loud, and every session feels like a mini-festival of movement.

  Over the past year, the transformation has been wild. I’ve... Continue reading

  Pickleball isn’t just booming — it’s exploding into a global phenomenon, and the Shire is feeling that surge firsthand. What started as a quirky paddle sport has become the go-to outlet for people chasing fun, fitness, and a bit of friendly competition. Courts that were once quiet are now buzzing with players of all ages, from absolute beginners to ex-racquet-sport veterans who’ve swapped their old gear for a paddle and a wiffle ball. The energy is addictive, the laughter is loud, and every session feels like a mini-festival of movement.

  Over the past year, the transformation has been wild. I’ve met players from their 20s right up to their 80s — table-tennis masters, squash die-hards, tennis hitters, badminton flyers — all jumping in and loving the switch. The community vibe is unreal; everyone’s just there to have a hit, make friends, and share a few stories between rallies. It’s social, it’s inclusive, and somehow everyone ends up leaving the court grinning and sweating like they’ve just smashed a full workout.

  And speaking of workouts — the fitness side is no joke. I’ve dropped 7 kilos without stepping foot in a gym, just by playing twice a week at Taren Point. It’s fast, dynamic, and way more fun than staring at a treadmill. With pickleball skyrocketing as the fastest-growing sport on the planet, it’s time the Shire stepped up and built more courts to match the demand. The community is ready, the momentum is real, and the sport’s future here is massive — we just need the facilities to keep up

• Basketball Facilities

  by ShireArts, 9 months ago
  The west of the shire has some great indoor facilities for basketball (Sutherland and Menai).

  
  This is a growing sport and unfortunately the East of the Shire lacks the infrastructure.
  
  Believe an indoor sports centre would be beneficial (maybe around caringbah) to cater for this sport - could also provide the availability for other sports such as pickleball.

  
  

  
  

  The west of the shire has some great indoor facilities for basketball (Sutherland and Menai).

  
  This is a growing sport and unfortunately the East of the Shire lacks the infrastructure.
  
  Believe an indoor sports centre would be beneficial (maybe around caringbah) to cater for this sport - could also provide the availability for other sports such as pickleball.

  
  

  
  

• Safe Schools Initiative Expansion

  by China, 9 months ago
  Work with the State Govt to find a means to open up the infrastructure and facilities in schools (eg cricket nets, ovals, basketball courts etc) to the general public, in a similar vein to the Safe Schools Program where school grounds are accessible during school holidays.

  
  These facilities are there and are under-utilised.
  
  I understand the security issues during school hours and the potential for vandalism etc outside of school hours but maybe dealing fencing that can segregate for both? I’m no engineer but maybe somewhere who is can design?

  
  

  
  

  Work with the State Govt to find a means to open up the infrastructure and facilities in schools (eg cricket nets, ovals, basketball courts etc) to the general public, in a similar vein to the Safe Schools Program where school grounds are accessible during school holidays.

  
  These facilities are there and are under-utilised.
  
  I understand the security issues during school hours and the potential for vandalism etc outside of school hours but maybe dealing fencing that can segregate for both? I’m no engineer but maybe somewhere who is can design?

  
  

  
  

• Pickleball. We need more courts and encouragement.

  by Dr Mark, 10 months ago

  I started playing pickleball about two and a half years ago, and at 59, I can honestly say I've never loved a sport more. It has inspired me to get fitter, and I've found a great community of like-minded friends, ranging from 20 to 81 years old, who enjoy this wonderful game with me.
  
  As a doctor, I've personally never felt fitter. Many of my friends and colleagues who also play have noticed huge improvements in their physical and mental health, not to mention their general wellbeing. It's a very social, fast-paced, and fun game.
  
  There are a number of... Continue reading

  I started playing pickleball about two and a half years ago, and at 59, I can honestly say I've never loved a sport more. It has inspired me to get fitter, and I've found a great community of like-minded friends, ranging from 20 to 81 years old, who enjoy this wonderful game with me.
  
  As a doctor, I've personally never felt fitter. Many of my friends and colleagues who also play have noticed huge improvements in their physical and mental health, not to mention their general wellbeing. It's a very social, fast-paced, and fun game.
  
  There are a number of studies looking into how effective pickleball is for improving health. I know of one study investigating its use in treating Parkinson's disease. I really think the local Shire should build more courts and encourage people to get involved in this fantastic game.

• The year of a football die hard....

  by GeoffCroxson, 10 months ago

  I am part of a "die hard" group of people (over 200 people in the WhatsApp group), predominantly from Georges River Football Club who look to play football all year round.

  Whilst the Shire facilities are well understood and utilised in winter, and as you would be aware, Oyster Bay is well worn and needs all summer to recover (as much as we'd love to stay on our home ground). We struggle to understand the availability of grounds local to us, and try to cycle through those available and in suitable condition, to allow other grounds to recover for their... Continue reading

  I am part of a "die hard" group of people (over 200 people in the WhatsApp group), predominantly from Georges River Football Club who look to play football all year round.

  Whilst the Shire facilities are well understood and utilised in winter, and as you would be aware, Oyster Bay is well worn and needs all summer to recover (as much as we'd love to stay on our home ground). We struggle to understand the availability of grounds local to us, and try to cycle through those available and in suitable condition, to allow other grounds to recover for their thrashing in the next winter.

  We try to look at council online booking facilities, along with scheduling for cricket and out of season football competitions, and understanding other facility bookings (e.g. dog training), but struggle to get an accurate view of field usage to try and create some certainty for the group of attendees.

  Whilst we know the upgrade of Oyster Bay is on timeline, perhaps the understanding of desired use of the facilities may play into how the council will plan upgrade of the facilities. In addition, being able to easily understand what facilities are available to us based on actual use would make a die hard organiser's job easier.