Plans have been lodged to convert a warehouse at the former Roche Pharmaceuticals site in Cromer into a $920,700 indoor pickleball and wellness facility.
Proposal Seeks to Transform Cromer Warehouse
A development application (DA2025/0961) has been submitted to repurpose part of the historic Roche site in Cromer into a new indoor pickleball facility. The project is proposed by Discover Sports Group and aims to deliver 12 pickleball courts, a wellness centre, and supporting amenities within a vacant warehouse on Inman Road.
Historic Industrial Complex to House Recreation Facility
The proposed site is part of the Northern Beaches Business Park, which occupies the former Roche Pharmaceuticals complex. The facility manufactured medications from the early 1960s until operations ceased in 2007. The area currently accommodates various recreational businesses including a trampoline centre, indoor golf, and a swim school.
Plans Detail Courts, Treatment Centre, and Amenities
Planning documents outline that the arena would include 12 pickleball courts, a mezzanine café, a pro shop, and an ancillary wellness and recreation centre. The wellness facilities are expected to include features such as cold plunge pools, saunas, and a hyperbaric chamber.
The application estimates the total cost of works at $920,700. Proposed operating hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the pickleball facility and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the wellness centre.
Pickleball Growth on the Northern Beaches
Demand for pickleball has increased significantly in the Northern Beaches region, with approximately 100 new players registering each month. The Northern Beaches Pickleball Association is currently the largest in Australia, reporting around 1,600 members.
Other recent developments include new courts at Winnererremy Bay Park and a rooftop facility under construction at Pittwater RSL in Mona Vale. The sport, often described as a combination of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, is played at several sites across the area and continues to gain traction nationwide.
Community Response Mixed
The proposed development has attracted public attention online. Some comments expressed enthusiasm for the increased access to courts, while others raised concerns about competing use of space, priorities for community facilities, and the sport’s longevity.
Application Now on Public Exhibition
The application, lodged on 21 July 2025 under DA2025/0961, is scheduled for public exhibition from 4 August to 18 August 2025. Council officer Charlotte Asbridge is overseeing the assessment process.
Published 28-July-2025
