The largest community facility and sporting reserve in the Hills Shire – Anthony Skarratt Reserve – is now beginning to take shape, with Stage 1 of construction nearing completion. The roof has been put on and external cladding is underway. The installation of wiring and pipes for essential services like water, electricity and air conditioning, on the inside, is complete too.
A first-of-its kind space in Box Hill, Stage 1 is expected to be finished by March 2026, weather permitting. Once completed, the community centre will have impressive features on offer – a satellite library, activity rooms and a function room and also a dedicated playgroup space complete with an outdoor play area. It will have a parking lot with 187 spots and boast of two EV charging stations.
Road improvements are also planned, including a roundabout at the intersection of Nelson Road and Box Road and pavement widening on Nelson Road, and a new bus bay.
“It was fantastic to visit the brand-new Anthony Skarratt Community Centre in Box Hill and see the remarkable progress we’ve made. Since pouring the concrete floor slab in March, the site has been transformed,” said Dr Michelle Byrne, Mayor of The Hills Shire.
“The planned reserve will be a community hub for our residents, delivering a huge range of facilities – four football fields, two baseball diamonds, cricket pitches and nets, six multipurpose courts, and a children’s playground. Once the entire facility is complete, it will be a vibrant place for residents to play team sports, enjoy events, hold meetings, and connect with friends and family,” she added.
The construction of Anthony Skarratt Reserve has been partially funded by the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program, with approximately $4.15 million as contribution towards funding the project.
The master plan for the Anthony Skarratt Reserve was adopted by The Hills Shire Council in 2021, with a vision to provide sporting and recreational opportunities for the growing Box Hill community.
The draft plan was then placed on public exhibition for 29 days, during which period the Council received 16 formal submissions. A few amendments were made after community consultation and the final design was updated to include two synthetic cricket pitches, an outdoor gym and a baseball batting practice tunnel.
Once complete, the Anthony Skarratt Reserve will be a great addition to the Hills community — a large, open space where people of all ages can enjoy sports, participate in local events, or simply get together with others. With modern facilities in place, it will help the community embrace an active and healthy lifestyle.
