Cromer’s planned 12-court indoor pickleball centre has taken another step towards becoming an active local venue, with a two-day Northern Beaches Pickleball Festival now planned for the Inman Road facility.
Northern Beaches Council approved DA2025/0961 on 4 December 2025 for the indoor recreation facility at 4–8 Inman Road, within Northern Beaches Business Park on the former Roche Pharmaceuticals site. The consent covers the pickleball arena fitout, fire exit and stairs, ancillary uses and signage.
Cromer News first reported on the $920,700 proposal in 2025, when plans included 12 courts alongside a broader wellness component, café and pro shop.
Festival planned for Cromer
The 2025–26 Events Grants and Sponsorship Program has awarded LVL-UP Sports Pty Ltd $3,500 towards the Northern Beaches Pickleball Festival. The proposed two-day event is planned for Cromer’s new 12-court indoor facility, with free come-and-try clinics, introductory coaching, social doubles, mixed-ability matches and competitive tournament divisions.
Food, fitness and wellness vendors are also planned. About 300 participants and 100 spectators are expected across the weekend. A festival date has not yet been published on the grants page.
Plans changed before approval
The project approved in December differs from the broader concept first lodged with Council. Original planning material described 12 pickleball courts, a mezzanine café, pro shop and ancillary wellness facilities. Earlier, proposed features also included cold plunge pools, saunas and a hyperbaric chamber.
Later planning documents show the plans were amended during assessment. Final traffic advice describes 12 courts with a small wellness area, while the proposed food premises were removed following an environmental health review.
Capacity capped at 58
The 12 indoor courts within Unit 10 remained at the centre of the approved development. Twelve courts could accommodate 48 doubles players on court at once, although the approved conditions cap customers, patrons and visitors at 58 people at any one time.
Planning documents modelled parking demand based on 12 to 26 customers, including spectators, with up to three employees staffing the centre. The final consent set the 58-person customer, patron and visitor limit.
Approved operating hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. The festival’s projected 300 participants and 100 spectators are totals across the weekend, rather than an indication that everyone would attend the venue simultaneously.
Opening date still unclear
The pickleball centre forms part of the ongoing redevelopment of the former Roche Pharmaceuticals complex into Northern Beaches Business Park, where commercial and recreational businesses now operate.
As of press time, the project has yet to identify a confirmed opening date for regular court bookings, while the festival announcement does not specify when the two-day event will be held.
The consent also requires several matters to be completed before an Occupation Certificate can be issued.
Published 28-Sept-2026
