State Government gives Premier’s footy team approval for $40m HQ

Construction on Canterbury-Bankstown’s new centre of excellence is set to start in October.

NSW Premier Chris Minns during a press conference to announce the beginning of testing on the Southwest Metro Line. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The Minns government has given the tick of approval for a $43m “centre of excellence” for the Premier’s NRL team.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have received planning approval for their new high-performance headquarters, which will house new change rooms, strength and conditioning facilities, medical facilities, education and meeting spaces.

The project is set to be the first gender-equal high-performance centre in Australia.

The three-storey building on Terry Lamb Hill at Belmore Sports Ground will also have facilities for local sports groups that use nearby playing fields.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has approved the project under the state-significant development pathway.

Construction is expected to begin in October and be finished next year.

“The Bulldogs have a proud history and this new Centre of Excellence will give this world-class footy team world-class facilities to train in,” Premier Chris Minns said.

An artist’s impression of the centre of excellence at Belmore Sports Ground.

“For too long female athletes have had to settle for second best, so it’s particularly pleasing to see the Bulldogs women’s team share the benefit of these state-of-the-art facilities.”

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the project “sets new standards” for sporting facilities.

“The new centre will not just fill an important role for the Bulldogs players and staff,” he said.

“Fans can look forward to improved landscaping, more trees, a new scoreboard and the kind of modern, well-designed building that Belmore deserves,” he said.

Originally published as State Government gives Premier’s footy team approval for $40m HQ