Bathurst would become a hub for up-and-coming cricket stars in an ambitious plan for vacant land in the city’s west.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The aim is to establish the Bathurst Indoor Cricket Academy on land at the back of Brooke Moore Oval, opposite the golf club.
Cricket NSW has signalled its support, offering a $100,000 grant towards the total cost of around $600,000 for the project.
The Integrated Design Group has already come up with artist’s impressions and site location sketches for the development.
Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association secretary Richard Newell said the proposal had been on the agenda for many years.
“It’s not something new,” he said.
“I started this journey about four or five years ago. We’ve been trying to sell the idea to council, but seem to keep getting fobbed off.
“Now Cricket NSW has committed $100,000 we can show this is a serious venture.
“All the other sporting codes seem to be getting looked after, so now it’s cricket’s turn.
“The city has wonderful facilities with all the turf grounds which attract the big carnivals, but there’s no real home for Bathurst cricket.
“An indoor academy would be a huge boost, especially considering the off-season training in a cold climate like Bathurst.”
Mr Newell said he wrote to council with a budget submission for funding for the academy, but it failed to see the light of day.
“We want council on board to champion the project and look forward to its support. If council backs us then getting sport and recreation funding would be a whole lot more positive.
“Bathurst MP Paul Toole has indicated he will approach NSW Treasury on our behalf for $250,000 and Calare MP John Cobb is also on our side.
“All up, we need around $600,000. I think that’s good value for a high profile sport such as cricket which, next to soccer, is one of the city’s most popular sports.”
Mr Newell said Bathurst is a proven breeding ground for talent. Trent Copeland has risen to Test status and the history of great players goes all the way back to Brian Booth.
“We produce such good players because of the facilities we have and a cricket academy would be the icing on the cake,” he said.
“This building would become the home for cricket in Bathurst. It could be used for a raft of sporting initiatives and make money if it’s run the right way.”
