The fairly modest indoor centre proposed by local cricket supporters now looks like being a state-of-the-art training facility with input from Cricket NSW and Charles Sturt University.

Bathurst Regional Council has also been an enthusiastic supporter of the proposal, and that’s exactly how it should be.

Of course, the academy is far from a done deal and there is still the small matter of how it will be funded.

But mayor Gary Rush is confident the money will become available if the Coalition Government is returned in March [as one would expect] and is able to go ahead with its plans to privatise the state’s electricity poles and wires.

It’s an unremarkable piece of political carrot and stick that seeks to soften the blow of an unpopular decision by offering a tasty incentive.

Now the budget for the cricket academy stands around $2 million – a far cry from the original estimates of $600,000.

But that reflects the increased technology now planned for the academy to make it a true regional centre of excellence rather than a useful local training facility.

It’s an exciting development for anyone involved with cricket locally and the confidence shown by all the stakeholders suggests it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.

Bathurst already boasts sporting facilities to match most regional centres and a cricket academy would be the icing on the cake.

We can hardly wait.