Work has begun on a $9.5 million extension to the Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre (SUSAC) on the University’s Darlington campus.
Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness (SUSF) Executive Director Rob Smithies said the SUSAC expansion was the most expensive project in the history of SUSF and, when completed, will transform the Centre into one of the biggest sporting complexes in Sydney.
“This new expansion has taken several years of planning and is currently scheduled to be finished in February 2013. The bulk of the H.K. Ward facilities will be relocated to the Darlington complex, so we will have a lot of sports facilities under the one roof. The view is that it will cater for all of these users for the next 40-50 years,” Mr. Smithies said.
A major focus for SUSF in recent years has been negotiating with the University over the projected demolition of H.K. Ward due to the construction of the Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CODCD).
Among the clubs, individuals and facilities being relocated will be the martial arts facility, the sports hall, the boxing facility and the group fitness room.
“When complete, the new facility will provide greatly enhanced accommodation for many of our clubs in future decades. Importantly, the SUSAC extension will enable SUSF to expand its cardio, gym and group fitness programs and improve not only the student experience but the fitness offering enjoyed by all users,” Mr. Smithies said.
Furthermore, the expanded centre will provide a new and vastly improved home for the Sydney Uni Flames WNBL and WNWBL franchises complete with over 1000 seats for spectators, change rooms, storage, wheelchair access and accommodation and improved corporate facilities.
