LOCAL LIFE
$ 21m sports precinct at The Gables receives
acclaim from Hockeyroos and Kookaburras
On Sunday, 16th March, Stockland officially opened the Central Playing Fields, a $ 21 million state-of-the-art sports precinct spanning 4.5 hectares in the heart of The Gables, a master planned community in the Hills Shire district.
The Central Playing Fields boasts a premium hockey facility with a Fédération Internationale de Hockey Category 2 and Category 3 certification, enabling the site to host both international and national hockey matches.
The precinct also features multipurpose sports fields for football and rugby, full-sized basketball courts suitable for basketball, netball, tennis, and futsal, as well as a skate park, a rock-climbing structure, and a children’ s playground. The community will additionally benefit from a fenced dog park and an amenities building equipped with a canteen, changing rooms, and restrooms.
Stockland General Manager of Master planned Communities NSW / ACT, Sophie Ale, highlighted the significance of the Central Playing Fields as a social and recreational hub for the community.
“ The Gables Central Playing Fields will provide a space where local schools, sports clubs, residents, and the wider community can stay active and take full advantage of these state-of-the-art sporting facilities,” Ms Ale said.
“ The Gables is a vibrant and connected community, and the Central Playing Fields cater to a variety of sports, ensuring there is something for everyone – from athletes and fitness enthusiasts to casual visitors looking to enjoy the dog park or a friendly kickabout on the fields.”
Kookaburras Captain Mark Hager and Hockeyroos Captain Kaitlin Nobbs emphasised the importance of the Central Playing Fields in fostering the growth of hockey in the region.“ These Olympicstandard hockey pitches mean national and state championships can potentially be held here, inspiring young players and encouraging more people to take up the sport. This precinct is an incredible investment in the growing area – the future of hockey is in good hands,” Mr Hager said.
“ It is crucial for young athletes to have access to world-class facilities like this one at The Gables. For athletes to excel, they need the opportunity to train consistently, and a facility of this calibre provides them with the foundation for success,” Ms Nobbs added.
The Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, marked the occasion as a historic milestone with the opening of the district’ s first competition-standard hockey facility.
“ This incredible space will support our young hockey players as they train, compete, and grow as athletes – perhaps even progressing to become a Hockeyroo or Kookaburra,” Dr Byrne said.
“ Providing premier sporting facilities is central to the Council’ s strategy of creating pathways for residents to access elite sports opportunities. It also offers Santa Sophia College, located in The Gables, a dedicated space for sporting activities.” Hockey NSW Acting CEO, Richard Griffiths, expressed his enthusiasm for the
( L-R) Matt Bulkeley, Mila Kasby, Uncle Colin Locke, Tina Cartwright, Deputy Mayor Frank De Masi, David Campbell, Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne, Reena Jethi, Sophie Ale & Michael Edgar.
new facility, acknowledging its value for the region.
“ There is a shortage of hockey fields in this part of Sydney, and with two synthetic turf pitches and supporting infrastructure, we now have a facility that will significantly contribute to the growth and development of the sport,” Mr Griffiths said.
This sports complex is part of The Gables community, which is already home to 5,000 residents who enjoy convenient access to parks, playgrounds, schools, and a town centre currently under construction.
The Central Playing Fields is located at 99 Fontana Drive, Gables.
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 118 // APRIL 2025 9