Macarthur’s top 9 future tourism hot spots
Industry leaders have identified the Macarthur region as a tourism hotspot of the future. Here’s what’s coming to the Macarthur region in the future.
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Industry leaders have identified the Macarthur region as a tourism hotspot of the future.
Here’s what’s coming to us soon.
Campbelltown’s beach and lagoon
Campbelltown is getting a beach and residents can't wait!
Campbelltown Council is negotiating with international company, Crystal Lagoons, to develop the unprecedented tourism attraction.
The idea was first proposed in May as part of a Western Sydney bid for the 2026 or 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic told the Macarthur Chronicle that even if the bid failed, the $1.5 million attraction would be built on land, most likely at Farrow Rd.
The idea sparked mass excitement from the public and is indicative of the changing landscape of Campbelltown as local stakeholders seek to attract businesses and entertainment to the area.
Crystal Lagoons Oceania director German Rocca previously told the Macarthur Chronicle that the lagoon would reinvigorate the surrounding landscape and provide opportunities for a variety of industry in the surrounding precinct. “The impact in the community is really positive, we are activating the surrounding area, it’s not just a pool being built in isolation,” he said. “It’s great for surrounding shopping centres and building up businesses like restaurants.”
If the Western Sydney Commonwealth Games bid is successful, the beach would host beach volleyball events.
Macarthur’s Hollywood Hills
Gregory Hills will be the Hollywood of Macarthur, with plans revealing it will feature the largest cinema screen in south west Sydney.
The United Cinemas two-storey, nine-theatre complex will deliver blockbuster entertainment, located between the entrances of Gregory Hills and Harrington Grove.
DartWest Developments general manager David Taylor welcomed the development, the second United Cinemas’ complex in the Camden area. “We are very excited to be able to house such a great cinema offering,” he said. “United Cinemas has a proven track record.’’
United Cinemas Australia chairman Roy Mustaca (pictured) said the business would bring the finest cinema experience to south west Sydney. “Our cinemas in Gregory Hills will be beautiful,” he said.
Leumeah Entertainment Precinct
A REGIONAL sports and entertainment precinct in Leumeah to rival the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park could come to fruition if Campbelltown Council and Wests Leagues Club get their wish.
A plan for a new 25,000-seat complex with parking facilities in the Leumeah precinct is part of the Glenfield-Macarthur Urban Renewal Corridor Strategy and local precinct planning.
The Moore Park precinct has restaurants, shops, bars, cinemas and markets, as well as the Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium nearby.
Planning for the Leumeah precinct is in its early stages, however, if approved, it could feature a professional sporting stadium with covered seating, restaurants and outdoor dining, convention centre, gym, cinemas, bowling alley, dance studio and apartments.
Oran Park Library and Community Centre
The future heart of Oran Park Town is under construction, with the massive 2500sq m Oran Park Library and Community Centre taking shape.
Described as a “community living room,” it will feature a civic plaza, outdoor landscaped library space, 15,000 books as well as infinite access to eresources.
Camden Mayor Lara Symkowiak said the new complex would be one of the jewels of the region.
“It will be more than just a library, catering to a range of different activities in the community,” she said. “The new library and community centre will reflect design excellence and innovation while embodying the spirit and aspirations of the community.” The library will be uniquely designed to honour the area’s motor racing heritage, as it is delivered under a Voluntary Planning Agreement between Camden Council, Urban Growth NSW and Greenfields Development.
The council vision is to create a place “where people of all ages, abilities and interests come for relaxation and entertainment, to experience history and culture, to play and create, to connect and communicate’’.
Popular library programs will remain at the library’s heart, including story time, babies into books, school holiday activities, arts programs, exhibitions and visiting authors.
The facility is expected to open in mid-2018.
Picton’s Iconic George IV Inn
Picton’s historic George IV Inn restoration will soon be complete, more than 12 months after savage storms forced the closure of the iconic pub.
The popular watering hole, built in the 1830s, suffered considerable damage in the 2016 Picton storms, forcing the previous owner to sell.
New owners Adam Cryer and Ross Robinson bought the much-loved inn in May for $3.125 million, saying they wanted to restore the hotel’s historic charm.
The business partners said they hoped to restore the inn within months.
The sale of the iconic venue included micro-brewing facilities and a detached rustic sandstone bar. It is hoped the iconic venue will boost tourism throughout Wollondilly shire. The George IV Inn was a popular weekend destination for a number of city visitors.
Narellan Sports Hub
The $11 million Narellan Sports Hub is preparing to open its first stage this month, unveiling Camden’s new sporting future.
The opening stage will consist of 30 netball courts, an amenities building, playground and 400 car parking spaces.
The ultimate sporting precinct will be the hub of all sporting codes when completed, including hockey, rugby league, netball and athletics.
The precinct will feature a 44 netball court complex, athletics facilities, a multi-use sports ground, walking and cycling networks and an amenities building. It will be the future home of a collection of sporting events, including the Hockey NSW Regional Challenge and the NSW State Age Netball Championships in 2018. There is no completion date set for the final stage of the hub.
Greg Norman Golf Course
GOLF enthusiasts will be able to tee off at the first Greg Norman-designed and built par three golf course in Sydney, at Gledswood Hills.
The Shark has teamed up with residential property developer and builder Sekisui House to design and build a premium golf course at its masterplanned estate, The Hermitage in Gledswood Hills.
The new golf course, which is under construction, will be a collaboration between Sekisui House, Greg Norman Golf Course Design and club operator Wests Leagues Club, Leumeah, to design and construct a new nine-hole course and driving range within the 300ha estate.
The course will stretch over 1365m, with an average distance of 152m for each hole.
It will also include a commercial driving range and practice facilities for the community to enjoy.
Big plans for local clubs
An ambitious Campbelltown RSL Club plan to relocate to Queen St by 2021 and open a hotel at their new premises heralds the renewal of the CBD.
The club announced late last year that it would create a new slightly smaller centre (pictured) with a 78-room hotel above the club in the heart of the Campbelltown business precinct.
It will retain its current entertainment options and facilities such as food, drinks, gaming and function rooms.
Meanwhile, Moorebank Sports Club plans to build a new club in the boom suburb of Gregory Hills.
Known as ‘Sporties’, the club has purchased 14,000sq m on the corner of Rodeo and Gregory Hills drives.
The iconic Club Marconi has also proposed to build a $12 million community club next door to the Narellan Sports Hub.
Arts Centre expansion
Campbelltown Council has applied for $30 million through the State Government’s Building NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program to expand Campbelltown Arts Centre.
If successful, the funding includes a second art gallery space to permanently house the art gallery’s significant collection of works, a new 320-seat theatre, expanded cafe for pre-theatre dining and a boardwalk to the sculpture garden where there will be capacity for outdoor concerts and events. Centre director Michael Dagostino (pictured) revealed the plans for the centre last year. It will have a new entrance, more rehearsal and studio space for artists and residents and education spaces for school students. The cafe would expand from 45-seat capacity to 120-seats.
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