Developer Celestino reveals $13 million sport centre at The Gables, Box Hill

A $13 MILLION sports centre — with ten sports across 4ha — with hockey as its centrepiece is planned for The Gables at Box Hill in Sydney’s northwest.

An artist’s impressions of the $13 million sporting complex at The Gables.

A $13 MILLION sports centre with hockey as its centrepiece is planned for The Gables at Box Hill.

Celestino, the developers behind the growing residential precinct, revealed exclusively with the Times that the facility would provide space for 10 sports across 4ha.

Development director Matthew Scard said the crowning jewel would be two synthetic hockey fields and seating for 1200.

Celestino development director Matthew Scard, Hockey NSW CEO David Thompson and hockey players, Ryan Oschadleus, 15, Jade Callander, 17, Kaitlyn Lee, 18 and Kurt Lovett, 21.

“Promoting and supporting an active, healthy lifestyle is a pillar of our masterplan for The Gables,” Mr Scard said.

“It’s our vision that every resident will be within walking distance of green space and a local park.”

Other drawcards include basketball, netball and tennis courts, soccer fields and a clubhouse. The precinct will also include an athletics track and facilities for long jump, triple jump and shot put.

An artist’s impression of how the grandstand and clubhouse would look.

Hockey NSW executive David Thompson said the precinct would put the northwest on the map as a major hockey centre.

“Our sport is starved of facilities in Sydney and this development at The Gables is a great opportunity that fills an urgent gap,” he said. “It will certainly encourage many new players in the northwest.

The precinct will provide dedicated space for several codes.

“Hockey is a sport open to everybody, regardless of their ability, age, background or gender. We expect a thriving hockey community to establish itself and future Kookaburras and Hockeyroos careers to begin.”

More than 7000 new participants registered for the sport across the state this year.

Community facilities will stretch across 85ha of parkland and will comprise rugby league, soccer, Aussie rules and cricket fields as well as parks, cycling and walking tracks.

An artist’s impression of the synthetic sporting fields.

Hills Mayor Michelle Byrne said she welcomed the partnership between the developers and Hockey NSW.

The Gables residential precinct includes more than 3600 homes, a retail and commercial town centre and a primary school.