Back to Belmore throws support behind Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog’s $50m Centre of Excellence

A $50m Bulldogs centre of excellence has been praised by a community campaigner as a “game changer” for the future of rugby league in southwest Sydney.

Artist impressions of the proposed Bankstown Centre for Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground.

A multimillion-dollar vision for a hybrid training and administration complex for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has been praised by a community campaigner as a “game changer” for the future of rugby league in southwest Sydney.

The $50m project, named the ‘Centre of Excellence’, would transform the Bulldog’s homebase at Belmore Oval Sports Complex on 3B Edison Lane, Belmore.

Canterbury-Bankstown councillors unanimously agreed at last week’s council meeting to support the proposal and in principle, agree to a new long-term lease arrangement with the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs currently have a lease with council for 3B Edison Lane and 1C Leylands Parade on Belmore sports ground from 2014 to 2035.

Canterbury-Bankstown council CEO Matthew Stewart said it was important to support the Bulldogs while the sporting team worked on providing council with additional information about the project, including the business model of the new facility.

Artist impressions of the proposed Bankstown Centre for Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground.

“We do have a commitment to the Bulldogs here and we do want to show our commitment before they go off and do all this work or worse the government goes and takes the money away and gives it something else,” Mr Stewart said.

“There’s an imperative for the Bulldogs to provide more information for our staff to analyse what they give us and provide a holistic report to enable you [Canterbury-Bankstown councillors] to confidently move into the exact terms of a new lease.”

Community group Back to Belmore patron Luke Brailey, who has advocated for the restoration of Belmore oval for 19 years, said the proposed development was a “dream come true” and a “step in the right direction”.

“The centre of excellence will underpin growth, greater productivity and economic prosperity in the Canterbury-Bankstown district,” he said.

“It would ensure jobs are created in the short term with the construction phase but the community will benefit for years to come and will make a difference for the morale for the community … and benefit current and future generations.”

Artist impressions of the proposed Bankstown Centre for Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground.

Mr Brailey said he wanted to see Belmore sports ground used to the “maximum potential” and maintained as a “top class sporting facility”.

“The establishment of a centre of excellence will be a great asset to our local community by providing a multi purpose space where community members can come together to share and learn,” he said.

Planners state there is “mutual benefit” in council approving the site as the club could create new junior rugby league teams in a “bespoke” sporting centre.

“The club estimates that developing the Centre for Excellence will potentially increase those participating in these programs by 5,000 people across the local community,” planners state.

The plans will be subject to the State Significant Development pathway for approval.

A Bulldogs spokesman said the club are expected to break dirt on the build in 2025.