Premier Nathan Rees today officially opened a $3.8 million state-of-the-art upgrade and turned the first sod for a $6.5 million aquatic safety training centre at The Hills Sports High School.

The Premier was joined by the Federal Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society, David Macallister.

Mr Rees said that The Hills Sports High School is a fantastic school, providing students with an opportunity to excel in both sports and academics.

"They have already produced 39 Australian representatives over a range of sports and Penrith Panther Wade Graham who made his debut last year whilst completing his HSC," Mr Rees said.

"For a school that has only specialised in sports since 2002, their achievements are impressive and something the entire school community should be proud of.

"The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that talented young athletes from Sydney's west and northwest have access to elite level coaching and facilities."

Mr Rees said the new fitness centre is the centre piece of the upgrade, providing a space for students to do weights and aerobics, increasing strength and fitness and decreasing the chance of injuries.

"It complements the existing gym at The Hills Sports High School and the planned aquatic safety training centre," Mr Rees said.

"The $6.5 million aquatic training centre is being built in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.

"This is the first specialised training academy in Australia which will enable the school to provide elite training in water sports such as competitive swimming, water polo and synchronised swimming.

"It will also provide up to 15 jobs in the construction phase, as well as three new full-time and up to 40 part-time jobs once the facility is up and running."

The training academy will comprise:

  • one training pool, 25 metres x 8 lanes, for all training programs by the Royal Life Saving Society as well by groups such as swim training squads; water polo teams; synchronised swimming teams;
  • one program pool, 20 metres x 8 metres, for use in programs such as spinal injury management, rehabilitation, disabled courses and swim and survive initiatives;
  • an administration block; and
  • seminar/training rooms.

The $3.8 million upgrade at the School also includes:

  • refurbishments to the library, making it bigger and allowing for more technology like computers;
  • a new toilet block; and
  • walkways, ramps and landscaping.

Mr Rees said that the new and improved library has all the latest technology and resources for students and teachers.

"Students can study in a calm environment or prepare assignments using the internet, and other technology," Mr Rees said.

"These new facilities are not only a boost for The Hills Sports High School, but also the local community who have access to them."

Mr Rees said the NSW Government is working hard to provide students and teachers all over the State with the best facilities possible. "We are spending a record $648 million for school upgrades and $230 million on school maintenance this year," he said.

"The Government recently committed to a further $150 million for more than 500 school improvement projects over the next two years through the Principals Priority Building Program. "We are spending more than $2 billion over four years to deliver the largest public education and training capital works program ever undertaken in NSW." This project is jointly funded by the NSW and Australian Governments under the Capital Grants Program.

Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society, David Macallister said thanks to the generous support of the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, the new facility will enable Royal Life Saving to continue to deliver high quality water safety education programs.

"Our focus is on building awareness of the dangers in aquatic environments and to equip the community with lifesaving skills," Mr Macallister said.