Bowling bar, indoor miniature golf and games arcade on the way to Castle Towers
HILLS Shire entertainment is on a roll, with the announcement of an entertainment quarter featuring a bowling alley, mini golf course and indoor video game centre at Castle Towers, while Hills Sports Stadium reopens after redevelopment.
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HILLS Shire entertainment is on a roll, following the announcement of an entertainment quarter featuring a bowling alley with an adjoining mini golf course.
An indoor video game centre has also been approved.
Both are headed for the Castle Towers Piazza, to open by December this year.
The new entertainment centres will surround the upper level of the Castle Towers outdoor entry, with Strike Bowling moving into the former Castle Towers Medical Centre, while iPlay amusement will launch its first NSW centre when they refit the Hilltop Phoenix shop front.
The final development application plans for Strike Bowling, Holey Moley Mini Golf, and iPlay amusement centre were approved last month. The Strike Bowling centre will feature 18-holes of Holey Moley mini golf, 10 Strike bowling lanes, a shutdown escape room, karaoke, as well as a sports bar.
A Fun Lab spokeswoman revealed exclusively to the Times that Strike bowling, which opens on November 30, will include Holey Moley mini golf for a first-time collaboration.
“Two giant entertainment venues are coming to Castle Hill under the same roof,” the spokeswoman said.
“We are thrilled to be opening in the Hills District in late November.
“We have secured a perfect location to launch Holey Moley and Strike Bowling under the same roof and we couldn’t be more excited.”
The development application revealed plans for Strike Bowling to be open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights and as late as 1am on Thursday nights and 12am on Sunday to Monday nights.
A development application for iPlay amusement centre in the Piazza — include gaming machinery, a party room and two large attraction game zones.
“We are very excited to introduce iPlay Australia to NSW,” national marketing manager Deborah De Costa said.
“We are hoping to open around the Christmas period 2017. The Castle Hill centre will feature an area of your favourite arcade games that cater to a vast array of clientele.”
The new entertainment precinct comes as Timezone prepares to open a new flagship store in Rouse Hill Town Centre.
HILLS SPORTS STADIUM REVAMPED
BASKETBALL in the Hills has received a new lease on life, following the completion of renovations of the Hills Sports Stadium.
The Times received an exclusive walk through of the new facility at Fred Caterson Reserve, before the stadium’s new courts open for games next week.
General manager Steve Burke said the redevelopment of the stadium has been in the pipeline in 2012.
“In five years we went from the planning stage to redevelopment and now opening the redeveloped facility,” Mr Burke said.
“This renovation has felt like an extreme version of the Block.
“We have an inspection from council on Monday morning to see games begin on Monday afternoon.”
Mr Burke said he was determined to see the NBL pre-season next year visit the new facility, with games being organised for the Sydney Kings and Wollongong Hawkes.
“In 2018, we will be expecting to host championships for the Senior NSW finals, state and national championships,” he said. “This new facility means that, for some that could not play because of a lack of facilities before, can now play at the stadium.
“We were turning away 30 teams every competition for the past five years, not to mention the children on waiting lists on programs.”
Hills mayor Michelle Byrne said the redevelopment was the opportunity to work together with the Hills Hornets to increase capacity of the Hills Sports Stadium.
“We can now offer more opportunities for young people in the community to play basketball,” Cr Byrne said. “We haven’t invested that much in basketball over the years so this was the council’s opportunity to show our support.”
MAYOR TO RALLY FOR NEW POOL
THE HILLS Shire could receive a second public pool, once Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Baulkham Hills has been upgraded.
Hills Mayor Michelle Byrne said she was determined to begin exploring opportunities for a second aquatic centre for the region, with the booming population requiring increased infrastructure.
Cr Byrne first suggested her dream of a second pool during her recent election campaign and said residents had already shared their thoughts on the proposal.
“People are excited by the idea of a second pool,” Cr Byrne said.
“Residents were also on board with my ideas about upgrading Waves Aquatic Centre that has been servicing the community for around 50 years.”
Cr Byrne said residents suggested that the most suitable locations for a second pool would be suburbs morphing from rural to residential such as Box Hill and Kellyville.
“Residents wanted to see an outdoor pool with water play activities,” she said.
“We need to begin developing a business case to prove that there is a need for a second pool. We also need to begin identifying locations and acquiring land and funds for the facility as well.’’
Cr Byrne said she would seek the support of the State and Federal Government to assist funding.
She said the key priority for the project would be seeking community consultation.
“We want to make sure that our thinking is right and that the community support our masterplan,” she said.
“I want to start exploring the plans now, before there is real pressure from the community to provide more facilities.”