After touring the city with representatives from Cricket NSW, mayor Gary Rush said Bathurst Sportsground stood out as the best option for the facility.

However, changes would have to be made to the original design to suit the space available. 

“The originally proposed 50x50 metre dwelling wouldn’t quite fit in the corner, so we are talking about actually revising the shape of that, which Cricket NSW are quite keen to do,” Cr Rush said.

“They recognise that that is probably the best spot for the academy.”

Cr Rush said Bathurst has a strong sporting culture and love for cricket, having a number of Australian representatives who grow up in the city.

Cricket NSW plans to eventually have cricket academies in all the state’s major regional centres, meaning potential locations in Bathurst are under serious consideration.

“We’re a growing, thriving regional centre, so it fits in nicely with Cricket NSW’s plans to continue to encourage people to play cricket and to particularly promote the life-long engagement through juniors and developing their love and interest in cricket,” he said.

“Bathurst fits the bill and it has long been recognised [to have] a very strong cricket competition, which extends beyond Bathurst of course, but I think it is an ideal place for one of these academies to be located.”

Cr Rush said council has a great relationship with Cricket NSW and will continue to work with the organisation to see the fulfillment of the project.

For the academy to go ahead, Cricket NSW will need to successfully acquire funding under the NSW Government’s leasing of the electricity poles and wires.

When first spoken about, Cr Rush said the academy was planned to include indoor cricket nets and multi-purpose courts for a range of sports.