Smithfield: New concept designs for Fairfield showground revamp revealed
The first concept designs to transform a 70-year-old southwest Sydney showground into a multimillion-dollar community and events centre to rival Homebush and Centennial park have been revealed.
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The first concept designs to transform a 70-year-old southwest Sydney showground into a multimillion-dollar community and events centre to rival Homebush and Centennial park have been revealed.
The stage two $38.5m redevelopment of Fairfield showground at 430 – 482 Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood, was lodged by Fairfield Council to the NSW Department of Planning for a two-storey multipurpose facility.
Planners state the building could be used in three modes, including as a function centre alongside an indoor sports recreational and entertainment facility for concerts, theatre and dance performances.
The initial plans include scope for more than 1200 seating capacity during a theatre event, 4000 people during a concert, 130 stalls for a trade show configuration and carparking adjacent to the building.
“The vision … will provide a first class, contemporary and commercially viable event and recreational facility that is a feature of the city,” planners said.
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone previously told this publication the new plans would feature a hybrid indoor sporting and entertainment arena that will bring big entertainers and events out to Western Sydney.
“Council missed out on a lot of WestInvest funding and we’ve reviewed the development of the showground, because we want to make sure that we get it right,” he said.
“This will be the first of its kind in Western Sydney, both in size and in the ability that it can actually host entertainment concerts.”
Mr Carbone said the showground should be the region’s “very own Centennial Park” as the people of Fairfield deserved a place where they can do “anything in one place, either kick a ball, shop or watch entertainment”.
“We’re looking at transforming it into a place where it has a greater focus on entertainment, but can still be used for sports, and all the other things that our community needs,” he said.
This comes after Fairfield council initially withdrew their application to reconsider plans to transform the area to focus not only on sport, but also entertainment.
Mr Carbone said council had received $28m from the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program which will go towards the redevelopment.
“At this stage, council will be required to fund the remaining amount, but final budgets won’t be known until designs are finalised,” he said.
Fairfield council will now prepare a statement of environment effects before the plans go up for public exhibition.
The redevelopment of Fairfield showground consists of three stages. Stages one and three are completed and include new sports grounds, amenities building, extension of the market awning and a new spectator stand.
The Fairfield showgrounds currently host a weekly market with around 600 stalls and is home to three sporting fields.
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