The Parramatta Eels today thanked the NSW Government following the announcement of a significant funding commitment towards the Kellyville Park Centre of Excellence and Community Facility which will deliver best in class high performance facilities for the Club and support the development of future male and female rugby league players.
In April 2019, the Eels announced a partnership with Hills Shire Council and the Federal Government to build Australia's largest community Rugby League precinct at Kellyville Park in North Western Sydney. The project has been split into three stages:-
Stage 1 – Already completed with five new NRL Grade Fields, and a temporary modular facility used by the NRL team and Eels administration
Stage 2 - The construction of a Community Centre and Match Facility that will be the first venue built in Australia able to hold dedicated stand-alone NRLW matches, which is due for completion in late 2023.
Stage 3 – The construction of a 6,000 sqm High-Performance Centre to house state-of-the-art training and administration facilities for the Parramatta Eels NRL and NRLW teams.
Centre Of Excellence
The precinct is focused strongly on driving engagement between the Parramatta Eels and the wider community across the Hills District and Western Sydney.
It will be one of the only elite training and match venues in Australia that will also include facilities for multiple community sports Clubs, allowing grassroots participants to train and play within the same precinct as their sporting heroes.
Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said, “Kellyville Park will not only provide a world-class high performance facility for the Parramatta Eels NRL, NRLW and Elite Pathways teams, but 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.
“The strength of this project is shown by the considerable support it has received from all levels of government, as well the NRL.
“On behalf of the Club I want to thank not only the State and Federal Government who have provided significant funding and support, as well as the Hills Shire Council who have shared our vision of building a world class sporting precinct in North West Sydney that caters for elite and community sport side by side.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said, “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.”
Minister for Tourism and Sport and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said investing in projects like the Centre of Excellence will benefit the game for generations to come.
“From community engagement to high performance outcomes, these facilities help grow the sport and provide local pathways for our future stars of the NRLW and NRL,” Mr Ayres said.
“The opportunity to run community rugby league programs and NRL/NRLW programs side by side will play a major role in being able to grow the sport and enable strong engagement with our elite athletes and the local community.”
