Blacktown City Council has celebrated the official opening of the new Disability Sports Centre at Blacktown International Sports Park. This $15 million facility will transform access for people with disability to grassroots sport and community participation.
Developed in partnership with Disability Sports Australia and fully funded by the NSW Government's Office of Sport, the centre is the first of its kind in Western Sydney.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting said the opening of the Centre reflects Council's strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, and to helping the community be more active, more often.
"Being more active, more often is good for health, good for inclusion, and good for our whole community. This centre is about more than high-performance training. It's about giving everyone the chance to get active, connect, and enjoy the benefits of sport."
"By providing accessible courts, tailored amenities, and strong links with the Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub (BEST), the centre supports participation from grassroots through to elite levels. I thank the NSW Government and Disability Sports Australia for their support and look forward to seeing the lives it will change," Mayor Bunting said.
It features two multipurpose courts, customised amenities, and fully accessible change rooms to support visitors balancing training with work, family, and study commitments.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said the project was one of 12 in a $140 million program for facilities to improve talent identification and development.
"The Centre of Excellence Fund supports the development of integrated high-performance facilities and community facilities," he said.
"Each centre of excellence features dedicated female programs and facilities to improve pathways for females as well as multi-purpose community facilities to enable the expansion of community programs and engagement.
"The opening of the new Disability Sports Centre of Excellence is a landmark day in NSW disability sports, and this facility will play a key role in Australia's success at the Paralympic Games and World Championships."
Improved pathways and public art, Timeflows, complement the new centre:
The Blacktown International Sports Park precinct has benefited from $1.6 million in grant funding through the NSW Government's Metropolitan Greenspace Program for new pedestrian and cycle pathways and access across the sports park precinct.
The access upgrades include a shared pathway which connects to Charlie Bali Reserve, a shared pathway and bridge across Angus Creek to better connect Rooty Hill Station with the Sports Park, and a stunning public artwork by local Dharug artist Shay Tobin, created in collaboration with Chris Fox and Michael Cohen.
The artwork, Timeflows, celebrates Dharug Country, exploring the history of land and water in and around Angus Creek through interwoven strands of time. Inspired by the ancient sedimentary landforms of the Cumberland Plain and the enduring connection of the Dharug people to Ngurra (Country), its sculptural forms rise from the ground like contours of the earth, symbolising layers of history and inviting reflection on the continuity of living culture in this place.
Council provided matching value for all of these projects which will help to encourage new users to access the new facilities within the sports precinct.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said improved access for pedestrians and cyclists will help the community to make the most of the new sports centre.
"The Minns Labor Government is matching housing growth and increased density with investments that create thriving communities.
"We've delivered better accessibility in parallel with the new Disability Sports Centre so the community can put the facility to good use from day one."
Stephen Bali MP, Member for Blacktown and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Public Spaces, said this centre is a game-changer for Western Sydney.
"As someone who has long championed Blacktown International Sports Park, I'm proud to see this vision realised.
"The Disability Sports Centre will empower people with disability to participate, connect, and thrive in a space designed for everyone."
Image: Timeflows - Michael Cohen, Chris Fox, Shay Tobin (image Shay Tobin)
A landmark facility for Western Sydney:
Disability Sports Australia, alongside Blacktown City Council, will guide the use of the new facility to ensure programs and activities uphold its purpose of providing people with disability clear pathways to participate across all levels of sport.
The Blacktown Disability Sports Centre is the latest addition to Blacktown International Sports Park, recognised as one of Australia's premier sporting precincts and home to cricket, AFL, athletics, baseball, softball and football facilities used daily by the community.
About Disability Sports Australia:
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a national non-profit, registered charity, and National Sporting Organisation for people with disability, dedicated to increasing participation in grassroots sport.
For over 60 years, DSA has been at the forefront of disability sport in Australia, starting with wheelchair sports and seeking to expand opportunities for people with disability across the country. Today, DSA is disability-agnostic, focusing on building the capability of sports organisations to ensure inclusive and accessible opportunities for people with disability.
Its goal is to raise awareness of the positive impact sport can have, remove barriers to participation, and build a future where sport is inclusive for all Australians.
