Heffron Centre plans approved, new community sporting centre set for construction mid 2021
Construction of a new state of the art community sporting centre in Maroubra is set to commence in mid-2021 following approval of a Development Application by the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel earlier this month (March 2021).
The $58M Heffron Centre will be built in Maroubra’s Heffron Park replacing the existing run-down 1940s buildings which currently house an Indoor Sports Centre and Gymnastics Centre.
The Heffron Centre will include:
- A new indoor multi-purpose sports centre with two halls to accommodate sports such as netball, basketball, badminton, volleyball and indoor futsal;
- A new dedicated gymnastics centre 33 per cent larger than the existing building with high quality amenities such as air conditioning, dedicated changerooms and bathrooms, office administration and parent / participant viewing areas
- South Sydney Rabbitohs community and high-performance centre including facilities to support Souths Cares’ educational and community programs
The project is funded by State and Federal governments, Randwick City Council and South Sydney Rabbitohs, to invest in local participation in sport.
The building will be fully owned by Randwick City Council with lease arrangements in place to the South Sydney Rabbitohs and operators of the indoor sports centre and gymnastics centre.
The centre is designed to maximise natural light and ventilation to reduce the use of air conditioning and electricity. It includes rooftop solar panels, rainwater and stormwater collection, bicycle parking and charging infrastructure to cater for the growth in electric vehicles.
Dune style planting will integrate the building into the park. New landscaping will include Australian native grasses reflecting the coastline and more than 100 new native trees and shrubs will be planted. New seating areas will face the popular criterium track and new cycle and pedestrian paths will connect with popular existing routes.
Randwick Mayor Danny Said explains the Heffron Centre will transform the western precinct of Heffron Park.
“This is an important investment in the health and wellbeing of our community. We have designed a facility which is adaptable to cater for the changing needs of our community.
“You don’t get an opportunity like this very often, to provide a state-of-the-art sporting facility and at the same time deliver social benefits, that tap into the proud and almost spiritual link the Rabbitohs have with our community,” explains Mayor Said.
Randwick Council has called for expressions of interest for operators interested in running the gymnastics centre and indoor community sports centre components of the Heffron Centre.
A tender for the construction of the centre is expected to be released shortly by Council seeking applications from construction contractors to build the centre.
Subject to appointments, construction is anticipated to commence in mid-2021 and open in late 2022.
