Centre of Excellence /

About the Centre of Excellence 

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are preparing a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to develop a new Centre of Excellence at Belmore Sports Ground.  

If approved, the Centre of Excellence will include:

• Site preparation works. 
• Construction of a three-storey Centre of Excellence on a portion of Terry Lamb Hill including: 
  • Gymnasium, training, medical and rehabilitation facilities
  • Aquatic recovery and rehabilitation pools
  • Lecture theatre, meeting rooms, office space and end-of-trip facilities
  • Change rooms and associated amenities, including change rooms for users of Peter Moore Fields
  • Upgrades to the existing scoreboard and improved pedestrian connection to Peter Moore Fields
  • Non-game day pedestrian and vehicle access via Tudor Street and an additional managed pedestrian access point via the existing footpath along the train line
  • Construction of an internal car park for an additional 62 cars. 

The proposed Centre of Excellence will predominantly be used for weekday operations and does not seek to amend existing NRL game day operations, including current game day access points for spectators. 

Supporting our Club and community 

The proposed Centre of Excellence demonstrates our unwavering commitment to investing in the future of our players, our Club and the needs of our community. 

Investing in women’s sports 

With the Bulldogs set to enter the NRLW in 2025, the proposal reflects the demand for better facilities to support women's teams and host NRLW games.  Through this proposal, the Bulldogs can ensure that the Club is NRLW-ready and demonstrate our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive sporting culture.  

Youth development  

Youth development is crucial to the future of the Club, and other clubs within the National Rugby League. The Centre of Excellence demonstrates our unwavering commitment to invest in youth development pathways. If approved, this state-of-the-art facility will support current and future players for decades to come, ensuring the longevity of our Club and the sport of Rugby League.

Supporting community spaces 

In line with the Council’s vision for the site, the Club has considered how the proposal can enhance how the community use Belmore Sports Ground.

We know Peter Moore Fields is used frequently by the community and have included new change rooms (players and referees), toilets, storage space and parking as part of the proposal. These features are designed to support and enhance the experience of the community members who frequently use this space.

Artist impression: Peter Moore Fields

Considering our neighbours 

We value our community in Belmore and minimising the potential impacts of our proposal remains a priority.  
As part of the SSDA process, the Club is preparing a range of technical studies to assess the potential impacts related to construction and operation of the Centre of Excellence.  

Traffic & Parking  

A detailed Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) has been developed as part of the SSDA. This assessment has found that the proposal will generate an additional 15 vehicle trips during the weekday morning peak and approximately 37 vehicle trips during the weekday afternoon peak. 

To mitigate the impact on parking availability, the proposal includes an additional 62 parking spaces within an internal car park, accessed via Tudor Street. This car park will also provide adequate room for service vehicles and player buses to turn, minimising impacts on pedestrian safety. 

Green Travel Plan 

Whilst there are no proposed changes to spectator access on game days, the Club is also considering how to manage traffic impacts once operational, particularly during NRL and future NRLW premiership games. This includes preparing a Green Travel Plan that leverages Belmore Sports Ground’s highly accessible location and proximity to Belmore Train station, minimising reliance on private vehicles when attending games. 

Noise  

As part of the SSDA, the Club has commissioned noise studies to assess potential impacts during construction and operation. The Club is committed to managing potential noise impacts through a range of recommended measures. These include: 

• Scheduling activities outside peak residential occupancy hours 
• Providing respite periods between high noise-generating work
• Notifying neighbours before commencing high noise-generating work
• During operation, the proposal is not expected to generate increased noise for our neighbours
• Crowd management.

Once operational, our noise studies do not anticipate any additional noise. 

Crowd Management 

In line with its current Crowd Management Plan, the Club will implement safety and security measures to ensure effective crowd management on game days. This includes police and security presence on site to manage behaviour, sufficient staffing resources deployed to monitor crowd behaviour, emergency exit gates/pathways and using zone managers to scan tickets on arrival and deploy bag checks at under pressure gates. 

Construction

During construction, we will seek to retain access to Peter Moore Field where possible. We will also implement a range of construction management plans to ensure the community can use this space safely. 

The proposal includes an internal car park that will run along the southern edge of Peter Moore Field, while constructing this car park, access via Tudor Street and Thorncraft Parade may be temporarily restricted. The community will be notified before these access arrangements change.

Artist impression: Aerial view

Next steps  

Planning Pathway  

The Club is seeking approval from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to construct and operate the Centre of Excellence. This approval was sought through the DPHI’s State Significant Development Application (SSDA) process.  

April 2024:  The first step in the SSDA process is lodging a request with DPHI’s for the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). The SEARs ensure government agencies and relevant service providers are informed and provided with the opportunity to request certain information be addressed within the SSDA.  

We are here:  The Club is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will assess any potential impacts from the Proposal and suggest mitigation measures. This involves consulting with neighbours and the community. Feedback from the community will be collated in an Engagement Outcomes Report and included in the submission to DPHI. 

October 2024: A formal SSDA will be lodged in October 2024. After lodging the SSDA, DPHI will publicly exhibit the Proposal. At this point, the community can make formal submissions to DPHI.

May 2025: The Club is expecting a determination within six to nine months of lodging the SSDA.

We want to hear from you 

The Club is committed to keeping the community informed at each stage of the planning process and has commissioned Urbis Engagement to collect community feedback and provide further information on the proposal.  
You can reach the team on:  
Email engagement@urbis.com.au 
Phone 1800 244 863. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is included in the proposal?  

• Site preparation works
• Construction of a three-story Centre of Excellence on a portion of Terry Lamb Hill including: 
  • Gymnasium, training, medical and rehabilitation facilities
  • Aquatic recovery and rehabilitation pools
  • Lecture theatre, meeting rooms, office space and end-of-trip facilities
  • Change rooms and associated amenities, including change rooms for users of Peter Moore Fields
• Upgrades to the existing scoreboard and improved pedestrian connection to Peter Moore Fields
• Non-game day pedestrian and vehicle access via Tudor Street; and
• Additional pedestrian access point via the existing footpath along the train line
• Construction of an internal car park for an additional 62 cars. 

Who is funding the proposal? 

• The proposal is jointly funded by the NSW Government’s Centre of Excellence Fund and the Club. For more information on the Centre of Excellence Fund, click here. 

Will I still be able to access Peter Moore Field during construction? 

• During construction, we will seek to retain access to Peter Moore Field where possible. We will also implement a range of construction management plans to ensure the community can use this space safely. 
• The proposal includes an internal car park that will run along the southern edge of Peter Moore Field, while constructing this car park, access via Tudor Street and Thorncraft Parade may be temporarily restricted. The community will be notified before these access arrangements change.

How will you manage traffic and parking? 

• A detailed Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) has been developed as part of the SSDA. This assessment has found that the proposal will generate an additional 15 vehicle trips during the weekday morning peak and approximately 37 vehicle trips during the weekday afternoon peak. 
• To mitigate the impact on parking availability, the proposal includes an additional 62 parking spaces within an internal car park, accessed via Tudor Street. This car park will also provide adequate room for service vehicles and player buses to turn, minimising impacts on pedestrian safety. 

Green Travel Plan 

• Whilst there are no proposed changes to spectator access on game days, the Club is also considering how to manage traffic impacts once operational, particularly during NRL and future NRLW premiership games.
• This includes preparing a Green Travel Plan that leverages Belmore Sports Ground’s highly accessible location and proximity to Belmore Train station, minimising reliance on private vehicles when attending games. 

Will the proposal increase the number of games hosted at Belmore Sports Ground? 

• The proposal does not seek to increase the number of NRL games played. However, with the introduction of the Bulldogs in the NRLW, we anticipate these games will be played at Belmore Sports Ground. We anticipate minimal impact from these games due to lesser spectator attendance. 

Will this generate more noise during game days? 

• As part of the SSDA, the Club has commissioned noise studies to assess potential impacts during construction and operation. The Club is committed to managing potential construction noise impacts through a range of recommended measures. These include:
  • Scheduling activities outside peak residential occupancy hours 
  • Providing respite periods between high noise generating work
  • Notifying neighbours prior to commencing high noise generating work
  • During operation, the proposal is not expected to generate increased noise for our neighbours
  • Crowd management.
• Once operational, our noise studies do not anticipate any additional noise. Additionally with the reduced capacity on Terry Lamb Hill, we anticipate noise may be reduced. 

Will there be security on site on game days?  

• In line with its current Crowd Management Plan, the Club will implement safety and security measures to ensure effective crowd management on game days. 

Will spectators be able to access Tudor St on game days? 

• There are no proposed changes to spectator access as part of this proposal. 

Will I still have access to Terry Lamb Hill on game day? 

• Spectators will still be able to use Terry Lamb Hill. The Centre of Excellence will use approximately one quarter of Terry Lamb Hill.  

What does this mean for Council’s Master Plan? 

• The Club is working closely with Council to ensure the proposal aligns with its vision for Belmore Sports Ground and will ensure the proposal does not preclude Council from undertaking works as identified in the Master Plan. 

How will this impact the Bowls Club? 

• The proposal will not impact on the operation of the Bowls Club. 

How will this impact Sydney Olympic Football Club? 

• Sydney Olympic will continue to operate as a sub-tenant in the Grandstand for the life of their current agreement. The Club will also benefit from the new and improved community facing facilities in the COE. 

When are you lodging the SSDA? 

• Mid-October 2024.

What community consultation has taken place? 

• We have issued a community newsletter, you can access a copy here.
• We will be hosting a community information session at Canterbury League Club on Wednesday 11 September 2024 between 5:30pm and 7:30pm AEST.

How can I have my say? 

We have commissioned Urbis Engagement to collect your feedback and answer any questions you may have. You can contact the team on: 
1800 244 863 
engagement@urbis.com.au