NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have this week signed a Heads of Agreement relating to the location of NSWRU’s proposed Centre of Excellence (CoE).
NSWRU identified the organisation’s current location – David Phillips Sports Complex, Daceyville – as the ideal place for the landmark project, following a detailed presentation by their project management team at Ontoit.
It follows an almost two-year tenancy for NSWRU at the Sports Complex, operating out of temporary demountable offices while this planning work is carried out.
While new buildings will be constructed, this project will not impact the amenity of Banks Avenue or it’s surrounding streets and the use of the facility overall will largely remain the same.
The now signed Agreement is the first major step in the process to building a new headquarters for NSWRU and the NSW Waratahs.
The CoE will service rugby around the state, becoming a central ‘hub’ for the game at all levels – with everything from state-of-the-art training facilities to function spaces, meeting areas and shared offices.
The project has been made possible thanks to a $20 million grant from the State government.
NSWRU intends to appoint an architecture firm in early-January who will work with Ontoit and Bayside Council to prepare a Development Application for assessment and approval.
NSWRU Interim-CEO, Philip Van Schalkwyk said this latest development was an exciting step towards a completed CoE.
“There’s been a significant body of work undertaken to get to this point and the [NSWRU] Board is extremely pleased with the outcome,” Schalkwyk said.
“We assessed a range of locations for the Centre of Excellence and our current home at David Phillips [Sports Complex] was comfortably the most suitable for the needs of rugby in NSW.
“Basing ourselves here will allow us to best implement our vision for this facility in servicing not only the [NSW] Waratahs but the entire game in our state.
“With an accessible location, an exclusive playing surface as well as a flexible site to design exactly what we’ll require for the lifetime of this facility.
“We’ve been here for two years and enjoy a great relationship with the University [of NSW], they’ve been extremely accommodating to our requirements for this new facility and a pleasure to work with from the outset.
“Once completed, the new Centre of Excellence will add significant value to the broader community thanks to its multi-purpose nature that will include a charity hub and café accessible to the public.”
