Submission deadline Monday 29 April 2024

Global scientific evidence is adding to concerns over the impacts of synthetic turf on human and environmental health. These include microplastics and rubber crumb infill shedding into waterways, extremely high flammability, increased urban heat, as well as serious burn injuries to sport participants, children and pets. New studies have also identified toxic effects from substances released by synthetic turf components. It is incomprehensible that there are no Australian standards for this product, especially given the high use of playing fields by vulnerable, developing children!

The NSW Office of Chief Scientist & Engineer released a report in 2022, detailing observations on the design, use and impacts of synthetic turf. This identified failings within current practice, and recommendations to improve decision making. Unfortunately, many recommendations from the report have not been incorporated into the draft guidelines.

Given the potentially serious implications to our health, environment and wildlife, WEPA believes there is a need to ensure that synthetic turf decisions are guided by an effective, enforceable framework that includes community consultation and delivers a transparent, impartial, and accountable decision-making process.

We will be providing feedback to the NSW Government on critical aspects of the guidelines that need improvement, and we encourage our members and the community to have their say on this important issue.

You can consider incorporating some of our key concerns and recommendations into your submission:

• The NSW Office of Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) report recommendations have not been effectively incorporated, including the urgent need for standards and regulation of all materials used in synthetic turf components, installation and maintenance.
• A Material Safety Data Sheet must be provided to all decision makers and users of synthetic turf fields.
• The current guidelines are not specific, comprehensive or enforceable. There should be a detailed, actionable checklist for all stages of synthetic turf decisions, from planning to end of life recycling.
• Guidelines must be based on objective assessment of all impacts that synthetic turf has on the environment, sustainability and community. As recommended by the OCSE more independent research and analysis of scientific data is required.
• The current Review of Environment Factors used by decision makers in assessing fields is outdated and inadequate. As recommended by the OCSE this needs replacing. A detailed Environmental Impact Statement should be applicable to all synthetic turf projects and independently verified to avoid any conflict of interest.
• Community consultation must be comprehensive and include information on all risks to health and the environment.
• Inter-agency working group activities involving synthetic turf decisions must be transparent and accountable.
• As noted in the OCSE report, there must be detailed public funding guidelines to objectively evaluate natural vs synthetic turf.

Your feedback could include personal experiences or injuries and any relevant qualifications e.g. science or engineering, that could add weight to your submission.

The Natural Turf Alliance has created a template that you can use to draft your submission. They are an organisation advocating for natural turf use in sports fields and open spaces, and have made a detailed assessment based on extensive research, data and expert opinion.

Click here to view and download the template

You can provide feedback on the NSW Government website here.

You may also like to consider amplifying your impact by emailing a broader pool of government decision makers. In particular sharing any concerns with your local state member of parliament. For most WEPA members that will be Member for Willoughby, Tim James. His email address is willoughby@parliament.nsw.gov.au. Your personal experiences with artificial turf will help Tim understand how it has affected you and your family.