Rabbitohs: Work starts on Heffron Centre ahead of grand final
The Rabbitohs have been given extra motivation to bring home the premiership this weekend with news from the site of their soon-to-be home in Maroubra.
Southern Courier
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The Rabbitohs have been given a huge boost in grand final week with news construction work has started on the club’s new multimillion dollar home.
Fresh images have been released of the $58 million sporting complex at Heffron Park, Maroubra, days out from the Bunnies taking on Penrith in Queensland.
The state-of-the-art facility in the squad’s supporter heartland will be known as the Heffron Centre and will feature training facilities, administration areas, along with a community gymnastics centre, an indoor sports centre and a cafe.
It’ll also feature a lecture theatre, function rooms, memorabilia area and a shared internal ‘street’ where community members can mingle with elite athletes.
Randwick Mayor Danny Said said the complex would double the size of the current facilities and would not only support the Rabbitohs, but local residents and community sporting groups.
“It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point and I’m very pleased that we are on the verge of starting construction on what will be the biggest project ever undertaken by Randwick Council,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to be starting construction on this project just days away from the Rabbitohs appearing in the grand final.”
The massive development project will generate 200 jobs during construction and more than 60 once up and running.
The community gymnastics facility and indoor sports centre will operate seven days a week up to 10pm and accommodate sports such as netball, basketball, badminton, volleyball and futsal.
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said he was excited by the move and confirmed Souths would also relocate its Souths Cares community and charity arm to the new venue.
“It’s going to be a wonderful home to the players, coaching staff and administration staff, but probably more importantly we’re really excited about the fact it’s going to be the new home for Souths Cares,” he said.
“This will allow us to expand upon the transformational projects and programs that they run for all of the people in our community but particularly those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
The Heffron Centre is being built by head builder ADCO and will be fully owned by Randwick City Council with lease arrangements to the Rabbitohs and to Belgravia Leisure to operate the indoor sports centre and gymnastics centre.
The centre was partly funded by the State and Federal Governments and is expected to open in late 2022.
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