A major milestone for grassroots and elite sport has been reached with the official opening of The Hills Shire's first rugby league Centre of Excellence – Parramatta Eels HQ in Kellyville.
The new facility is the largest of its kind and was officially opened on Thursday, May 22 with representatives from all levels of government, sporting organisations, and the community in attendance.
The Centre will be the training base for the Parramatta Eels NRL and NRLW sides, as well as the premier regional facility for junior and women's rugby league.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said the facility represented a number of important milestones, both for the local community and on a national scale.
"It is the largest rugby league precinct of its kind in the world and the first elite rugby league facility in Australia designed for gender equality — a significant step forward for inclusivity in sport," Mayor Byrne said.
"The facility opens elite pathways for Hills athletes to pursue rugby league at the highest level, giving them access to professional-standard infrastructure right in their backyard. It also provides facilities for spectators and the wider community as the project seeks to give greater access to the Hills community."
The Centre of Excellence is the result of a strong partnership between The Hills Shire Council, Parramatta Eels, the state and federal governments, as well as the builders and contractors who worked on the delivery of the facility.
The Hills Shire Council is proud of its role in the delivery of this precinct, completing five playing fields, a 250-space car park, and a new access road from Stone Mason Drive. Council also contributed to the development of the on-site community centre.
The Centre also includes a 1,500-seat grandstand, multi-purpose function and community education rooms, gym, match day media rooms, change rooms, a kiosk and much more.
Mayor Byrne said this facility was an investment in grassroots sports and the growing Hills community.
"With our population expected to grow by another 140,000 residents over the next 15 years, the need for high-quality sporting facilities has never been greater – and Council is committed to meeting that demand," Mayor Byrne said.
"This is one of several premier facilities we've helped deliver, including those in basketball, tennis, AFL, cricket, and hockey – and we're continuing work on future centres for football and rugby union.
"These facilities remove the barrier of long-distance travel for families and athletes, support the development of grassroots sport, and inspire the next generation of sporting stars – the next Mitchell Moses could come from right here in The Hills."
Mayor Byrne congratulated all involved in the development of the Centre of Excellence.
"Council is proud to be part of this transformative project and looks forward to working with the Eels in managing this facility, which will serve as a world-class training and community hub for years to come."
Above: Mayor Byrne with Eels CEO, Jim Sarantinos, Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Eels Director, Matthew Beach, and PNRL President Greg Monaghan.
