Waratahs and NSW Rugby chose Daceyville as home for next 30 years
A $20 million centre of excellence will be built after bosses confirmed the location of the new headquaters of rugby union in NSW.
Southern Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- NSW Waratahs unveil plans for sports and community centre in Daceyville
- Plans to turn Daceyville into sporting precinct
The NSW Waratahs will call Daceyville home for at least the next three decades after signing an agreement to build its $20 million centre of excellence in Sydney’s southeast.
In 2018, the state government announced a $20 million grant for NSW Rugby to build a centre of excellence – which will become the new headquarters for the Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union.
NSW Rugby has since looked at multiple locations to build its headquarters and has decided on David Phillips Sports Complex in Daceyville, where it is currently based in demountable offices.
SPEEDSTER: Rugby Sevens teen and her very cool nickname
INCREDIBLE DEBUT: From player once scared to be tackled
Last month, the project took a big step forward, with NSW Rugby signing a heads of agreement with UNSW which owns David Phillips Field.
It is understood the agreement spans in excess of 30 years for the centre of excellence to be built and operated at the site.
It will feature new buildings including a state-of-the-art gym and training facilities, cafe, function spaces, meeting areas, shared offices and upgraded playing areas.
NSW Rugby interim chief executive Philip Van Schalkwyk said it was a great fit.
“We assessed a range of locations for the centre of excellence and our current home at David Phillips Sports Complex was comfortably the most suitable for the needs of rugby in NSW.
“There’s been a significant body of work undertaken to get to this point and the NSWRU board is extremely pleased with the outcome.”
NSW Ruby plans to appoint an architect this month who will work with project management company Ontoit and Bayside Council to prepare a development application.
It is proposed the centre of excellence will “service rugby around the state” and be used by all levels of rugby rather than simply the Waratahs.
“Basing ourselves here will allow us to best implement our vision for this facility in servicing not only the Waratahs but the entire game in our state,” Mr Van Schalkwyk said.
“Once completed, the new centre of excellence will add significant value to the broader community thanks to its multipurpose nature that will include a charity hub and cafe accessible to the public.”
NSW Rugby and the Waratahs have been using the site as their base for two years.
The sports complex also features UNSW hockey fields which will continue to be used at the complex.
Astrolabe Park which neighbours David Phillips Sports Complex in Daceyville was also earmarked for a new major sporting precinct in 2018 – backed by Cricket NSW, AFL NSW and UNSW – but those plans have since been withdrawn with Bayside Council.