Sydney Maori Cultural Centre at Greystanes progresses

A western Sydney centre will strengthen a culture that is being ‘lost and diminished’ when members of the Maori community migrate across the Tasman.

A $7.3m cultural centre at Greystanes will be a way for the Maori diaspora to restore their culture when the facility opens, a community leader says.

The project for the multipurpose community facility, to be known as the Sydney Maori Cultural Centre, will be home to cultural performances, dances and education for the younger generation.

Cumberland Council has made an agreement for a 20-year lease with Sydney Marae Alliance to build Australia’s first Maori cultural centre over 15.6ha at Hyland Road Reserve.

One of the concept designs for the Maori centre.

The development of the traditional marae, which is a sacred meeting place for Maori communities, is a first outside New Zealand.

Sydney Marae Alliance chief executive Domenic Brunetta said the centre would play a

significant role to those who have migrated from New Zealand.

The centre at Hyland Road Reserve will be a place to educate and entertain.

“I guess it’s a revival of a dying culture with so many Maori that are immigrating to Australia, and the culture is being lost and diminished so we need to strengthen that for Maori moving to Australia,’’ he said.

The facility will be perched in Hyland Road Reserve.

It could open in 2026.

“It’s going to be a facility open to all backgrounds and cultures.’’

Australia has a 65,000-strong Maori community.

The state government’s Sydney central city planning panel is assessing the application that was originally lodged with the council.

The Planning Department will ultimately determine the project, which, subject to approval, would open about 2026.