Sport

ISSUE 25 | August 2022

SporT AQUATIC CENTRE NAMED As it as passes halfway mark

PARRAMATTA’AS new $88.6M stateof the-art aquatic and leisure centre is fast approaching the finish line as construction races past the halfway mark.

Named Parramatta Aquatic Centre at a recent Council meeting, the centre is rapidly taking shape, with indoor and outdoor pool sites excavated and over 9000 cubic metres of concrete poured.

“The countdown is on until we open the doors of our fantastic new centre to the community,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.

“We know the people of Parramatta are eagerly-awaiting the opening, so we have around a hundred workers on site daily, working hard to deliver our new aquatic centre.

“This multifunctional centre will be a place where our community can exercise, learn to swim or simply have fun with family and friends all year around. I look forward to seeing it be enjoyed by our community for many years to come.”

Once complete, the centre will include a 10-lane, 50m outdoor pool; 25m indoor pool; indoor learn-to-swim pool; indoor water playground; spa, steam and sauna facilities; café; fitness centre; multipurpose community rooms; and parking spaces. Together the three pools will hold more than 2.5 million litres of water.

Member for Parramatta, Dr Geoff Lee said: “I’m excited that we are past the halfway mark in delivering a first-class facility, as we know the community can’t wait to get back into the water.”

“This aquatic centre will be the envy of communities all over the State. It will be a complex with versatility designed to meet the needs of Parramatta now and in the future for decades to come,” Dr Lee said.

Designed by Grimshaw Architects, Andrew Burges Architects and McGregor Coxall, and built by construction company Lipman, the new aquatic centre will sit seamlessly in Parramatta Park’s lush surrounds. The centre’s roof will feature solar panels, generating around 273 Megawatts per hour in energy savings annually.

In a Council Meeting the facility’s name, Parramatta Aquatic Centre, was endorsed by Councillors. The Council also endorsed naming the 50m outdoor pool as the Memorial Pool in recognition of the former Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre.

The community is now invited to vote for the names of the centre’s program rooms and outdoor areas. The suggested names feature Dharug language with many inspired by nature, such as Barra Ngurang (Eel Room). The next round of consultation runs from 13-27 July.

Community members can provide feedback by visiting participate.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/parramattas-aquatic-leisure-centre

The project is being co-funded by Council and the NSW Government, which is investing $38.5M from the Restart NSW Fund. It is anticipated to open in 2023.

Artist impressions of the completed project.

For more information, please visit www. cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/poolupdate

EELS TO BUILD CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Developing our future stars

„ DALLAS SHERRIUNGHAM

PARRAMATTA Eels is building a new Centre of Excellence at Kellyville which will develop the future stars for the men’s and women’s NRL competitions.

Discovering and nurturing local juniors is vital in today’s highly competitive Rugby League world.

The Eels greatest years in the 1980s were built around local juniors like Brett Kenny, Paul Taylor and Steve Ella. Penrith Panthers have had great success developing juniors from its territory which led to last year’s Grand Final win.

The NSW Government will spend $113m over the next four years with a Budget boost to deliver the three new state of the art Rugby League Centres of Excellence.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St George-Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels will develop new Centres of Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground, the University of Wollongong and Kellyville Park.

Spokesman, Stuart Ayres said each Centre of Excellence would include integrated world-class high-performance training, administration and community facilities.

“The NSW Government’s investment in Rugby League Centres of Excellence is not only bridging the gap between elite sport and the general community but cements NSW’s position as the home of the NRL,” Mr Ayres said. “From community engagement to high performance outcomes, these facilities will help grow the sport and provide local pathways for our future stars of the NRLW and NRL.” Treasurer Matt Kean said NSW was in the midst of a sports facility construction boom. “These projects will create dozens of valuable jobs, providing another boost to the construction industry as the NSW economy bounces back from the impacts of the pandemic,” Mr Kean said.

Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said: “Kellyville Park will provide a world-class high performance facility for the Parramatta Eels NRL, NRLW and Elite Pathways teams.”

“It will also be a precinct that will enable our Club to connect with the local community, cater to the changing needs of one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia and increase participation across all forms of Rugby League for boys and girls from grassroots all the way up to the elite levels of the game.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government for investing in the future of our Club and area, in the knowledge that this will be incredibly beneficial for young male and female players for decades to come.”

The NSW Government invested in the eight Centres of Excellence projects under the NRL Centres of Excellence Program and NSW Government Centres of Excellence Program.

Eels fans at home.