Kempsey Shire Council opens six-lane cricket net facility

November 23, 2020

Kempsey Shire Council have opened their recently installed six-lane cricket net facility for summer as part of the Verge and Eden Street Sporting Complex Masterplan.

The new nets were officially opened yesterday, 19th November, by Kempsey Shire Mayor Liz Campbell, along with Council’s General Manager, Craig Milburn and Cricket NSW representatives.

The only facility of its size, style and quality north of Newcastle, the nets are designed with both batters and bowlers in mind. They have been line marked to conform with junior cricket formats that cater for different pitch lengths and to accommodate a variety of participants.

The project, worth $181,745, was jointly funded by Council, the T20 World Cup Legacy Fund, the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund, the Macleay Valley Cricket Association, and the Mid North Coast Junior Cricket Council.

Council’s Coordinator Parks and Projects, Steve Pellen, said the new nets have been installed in a new location to make way for a new pavilion area and replace the old, dated infrastructure which had reached the end of its lifespan.

Pellen adds “Council worked with the local cricket association to identify the need for more nets and to source additional funding to provide six nets where previously there were only four.

“We have a strong cricket participation in the Macleay so having facilities of this standard ensures ongoing development of junior and senior cricket programs in the valley.”

Cricket NSW spokesperson, Martin Garoni, said the nets represented an investment in grassroots regional cricket supported through a Cricket Infrastructure Funding grant and advised “Cricket NSW are committed to cricket across the state and to supporting local councils and clubs to deliver projects that improve facilities and increase player participation.”

Kempsey Shire Mayor, Liz Campbell, welcomed the next chapter in the shire’s long history of sporting excellence adding “We love our sport in the Macleay and it is wonderful to see these world class facilities open to the public here in the centre of town.”

The project forms part of key improvements to the fields under Council’s Verge and Eden Street Sporting Complex Masterplan.

Image top: Local players testing out the new cricket net facility and image above: Local players and representatives from the Macleay Valley Cricket Association and Cricket NSW with Mayor Liz Campbell, Council’s General Manager Craig Milburn and Council’s Coordinator Parks Projects, Steve Pellen

10th April 2019 - Sporting bodies have input on planned Kempsey Sporting Complex

16th February 2018 - Kempsey Shire Council: Management Lease and Operation of Council owned Swimming Pool/s

3rd April 2017 - Kempsey Shire Council agrees new management for Macleay Valley Coastal Holiday Parks

6th April 2016 - Kempsey Shire Council seeks partner to develop and manage its holiday parks

18th November 2020 - Goulburn Mulwaree Council welcomes representative cricket returning to regional NSW

28th September 2020 - Dettol and Cricket Australia announce new partnership supporting cricket’s hygienic return

17th August 2020 - Penrith Cricket Club eagerly awaits completion of Rance Oval development

10th July 2020 - Cricket Victoria launches training series for volunteers

27th May 2020 - Cricket Australia’s cost cutting raises concerns over future of the game

16th April 2020 - Parkes cricket pavilion restored to former Glory

22nd March 2020 - Online cricket coaching program launched

29th December 2019 - Cricket Victoria pays tribute to its volunteers

18th December 2019 - Toyota and Cricket Australia partner to help kit out girls’ cricket teams

3rd December 2019 - Cricket Australia refuses gambling sponsor for Big Bash League

25th October 2019 - Orange Council awards tender for new indoor cricket centre

10th September 2019 - New report highlights the impact of climate change on cricket

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.