Parramatta Eels Kellyville Park: $40M Centre of Excellence proposed

The superstars of the Parramatta Eels could soon enjoy yoga rooms and elite training facilities as part of a $40 million Centre of Excellence planned for Kellyville Park. SEE THE PLANS:

The Parramatta Eels is one step closer to building a new Centre of Excellence in Sydney’s northwest with detailed plans released for the $40 million project.

Kellyville Park would be transformed into a community and elite sporting hub with a grandstand, training zones and rehabilitation facilities to cater for its squad and the region’s grassroots sporting clubs.

The 34,689 sqm facility would be a 15km trek north from the club’s Parramatta heartland and the club said the move would cater to the changing needs of “one of the fastest growing regions in Australia”.

An early concept image of the facility.

Plans show the centre of excellence would have five playing fields, multiple gymnasiums, yoga rooms for players, theatre/review rooms, aquatic rehabilitation facilities, and changing rooms. There would also be medical offices, multipurpose rooms, match day media rooms and cardio facilities.

The new grandstand would accommodate approximately 1500 seats while the new community facility at the site would include a cafe and function rooms.

A concept plan of the new grandstand.

Three of the five playing facilities would be available to grassroots sporting clubs ranging from rugby league to touch football.

The park currently hosts a range of local clubs including the Kellyville Bushrangers, Polecats Rugby League, Renegades Rugby Union and Kellyville Kolts Baseball.

At a meeting with the Department of Planning in April, the club discussed ensuring existing sporting and community groups could “stay the site” or assist in finding alternative facilities.

An early concept plan of the centre of excellence

Renegades president Scott Mitchell said the club has been given assurances it could remain on the site and hopes the new facility will drive a new wave of interest in rugby league.

“Our numbers have already grown exponentially in the last two seasons – we’re consistently fielding three seniors rugby sides and we’re pushing to get an extra women’s side so new facilities are much needed,” he said.

“Having the Eels here will definitely be a positive for the club and the region.”

A site plan of the development.

In a statement, the club said the facilities would also be able to be shared with schools throughout the week and host junior and elite sports on weekends.

“Already as part of stage one we have community sporting clubs operating alongside multiple elite sport programs and this will be part of the vision for the project going forward,” a spokesman said.

“There will be a minimum of three high quality fields available to our community users and also a major match day venue that can cater for a variety of elite sport events.”

The club said the move north would support demand for new sporting facilities in the Hills, partly driven by population growth along the new Sydney Metro rail line.

The site could be up and running by the end of 2024.

It added that “continuing to operate within the Parramatta LGA” would result in a “lost opportunity” to upgrade community facilities through government funding.

The Hills Shire Council has already identified the site as a “premier sports facility to host a national rugby league presence”.

The Federal Government has pledged $15 million towards the construction bill with the remaining to come from State Government grants, council funding and the club itself.

A full planning application is expected to be lodged later this year and if approved, construction is due to begin next year for completion by the end of 2024.