The Hills Shire Council’s decision to destroy hundreds of trees in Castle Hill and commit $16.6 million of public money to make way for Eastwood Rugby Union Club’s home ground is a serious misallocation of community resources.  

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1. This is the wrong location for a premier sporting venue.

Stage 1 has taken a heavy toll on our critically endangered forest ecosystem, including removing tree hollows vital for threatened species. Platypus swim in the creeks, powerful owls nest here, glossy black cockatoos soar overhead, and wallabies browse. Fred Caterson Reserve is a cherished natural sanctuary for people and animals alike, its character should be preserved.

The intensive stage 2 infrastructure that Eastwood Rugby Club intends to unlock for their new home ground is grossly inappropriate for this site. Elite-level elements unsympathetic to the sensitive natural surroundings don’t belong here: a 2000 seat grandstand, plastic playing fields, excessively bright lighting for televising matches, and alcohol sales are all on the club’s wish list.

Stage 1 is under construction, but it’s not too late to stop Stage 2.

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2. Communities deserve transparency as to who influences planning decisions 

Eastwood Rugby Club initiated discussions with the Hills Shire Council about the future of the site 4 years prior to the community being told the land would become a premier rugby union facility.  

Private groups are entitled to advocate for their interests, but when plans for public land are being shaped, the public should know who is involved, what they are asking for, and when those discussions occur. Communities should not discover years later that public recreation facilities have been tailored towards the ambitions of a private organisation.

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3. Public land and public money should serve the broader community and remain genuinely accessible.

Eastwood Rugby Union Club is entitled to seek a permanent home but finding that home should not mean using environmentally sensitive public land and millions of dollars in community funds. 

Council is using public money to bank roll this contentious project without consulting those paying for it. New Hills Showground residents are footing the bill through their developer contributions while Council and Eastwood Rugby have already decided how their money will be spent.  
This is unfair and unacceptable.

Council’s investment should deliver the greatest possible benefit to the local community, especially as more than 20,000 new residents move into the Showground area. Original plans for 3 single playing fields (allowing for 1 cricket oval) were changed in 2020 after closed-door lobbying by Eastwood Rugby Union Club. Public land should not be shaped around the long term needs of one premier sporting organisation. Flexible, multi-use community sports fields are what we need.

This public green space is meant to serve the recreation needs of the rapidly growing Hills Showground precinct whose residents are being encouraged to live in high density housing, use public transport and rely on nearby public parks and sportsgrounds.  

Community sporting fields and a premier-club home ground are not the same thing. 
 
4. Accountability when spending public money.

The $16.6 million rugby fields being constructed on the Pony Club site are subject to a mandatory Capital Expenditure Review under Section 23A of the Local Government Act. As the project now exceeds $10 million, additional (Part 11) requirements of the Capital Expenditure Guidelines are triggered.  

We call on our local Liberal State Members to demand that The Hills Shire Council fulfil the Part 11 Capital Expenditure Review requirements, including specific community consultation regarding the proposed $16.6 million expenditure for this project, before any further public money is committed.

We call on our local Liberal State Members to demand the Liberal dominated Hills Shire Council: 

• Stop the stage 2 high impact development around the needs of Eastwood Rugby that will negatively impact the entire reserve.  
• Genuinely prioritise the needs of the local community. 
• Protect the remaining bushland and wildlife in Fred Caterson Reserve. 
• Release sports participation data so the community can see which local sports are in high demand. 
• Openly reassess the best long-term use of this public land before further commitments are made.  

Fred Caterson Reserve belongs to the community.  

Stage 2 has not happened, the agreement is not binding, Council can still choose a better future for this land. 

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