Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
A 10-year blueprint to guide the strategic prioritisation and provision of community cricket infrastructure in New South Wales has been released today.
The Cricket NSW Infrastructure Strategy has been built from a foundation of extensive stakeholder consultation and underpinned by robust evidence and data analysis.
The full report can be downloaded and read here.
The outcome is a strategy that reflects the facility needs of grassroots cricket to support growth in participation and improve accessibility to the sport at all levels in line with the NSW Cricket Strategy 2017-2022.
Cricket NSW Chief Executive Officer Lee Germon praised the efforts made by all involved in providing the valuable feedback used to inform the strategy.
“I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by all those who gave up their time to participate in the 21 workshops that took place across metropolitan and regional NSW or completed the online survey,” Germon said.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to listen to our cricket communities and government partners about their infrastructure needs and the pressures they face in ensuring cricket is accessible, inclusive and a welcoming environment for their participants and the whole community.
“We want this strategy to underpin a long-term partnership with all levels of government, community cricket and other sporting stakeholders. Together, we can achieve outcomes that will support the development and growth of our game and more broadly, sport across NSW.”
The project was co-funded by Cricket Australia and CNSW and Cricket Australia’s Head of Government Relations & Infrastructure Joe Fennessy highlighted the collaboration between stakeholders.
“Cricket Australia is pleased to partner with Cricket NSW to develop the CNSWIS,” Fennessy said.
“The implementation of the strategy will be supported by Cricket’s infrastructure funding programs – the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund and Grassroots Cricket Fund – and will require partnerships across government, community cricket and other stakeholders.
“The ongoing development of sustainable and fit-for-purpose infrastructure is essential to strengthening cricket’s position in NSW into the future.”
Through the ACIF, the GCF, and more recently through the NSW Government’s ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund, CNSW continues to invest in, and support the enhancement of cricket infrastructure across the state.
Since 2013, CA and CNSW have contributed $5.86m in grant funding to 276 NSW community cricket facility projects worth over $62 million.
Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund is benefiting grassroots cricket across the State.
“Over the past three years, the NSW Government awarded 95 projects which totals $4.9m in grants via the Legacy Fund,” Mr Lee said.
“This investment has resulted in over $29m in facility developments across NSW, helping to foster the love of cricket, increase participation, and support the player development pathway.”
Summary of the Cricket NSW Infrastructure Strategy 2020-2030
The CNSWIS will deliver a diverse mix of facilities and infrastructure to ensure the sport can meet the evolving needs of participants and key stakeholders.
Based on key findings, 10 infrastructure priorities have been identified to guide investment and resources. These include facilities to support the growth of female cricket, the renewal of ageing infrastructure, the provision of off-field supporting infrastructure, the provision of facilities that are resilient to extreme weather events and the delivery of a Cricket and Community Centre network across NSW.
Key themes emerging from the strategy include enhancing Cricket’s relationship with local governments, collaboration, and innovation to increase Cricket’s access and usage of existing facilities, and the provision of sustainable facilities.
Major opportunities include cross-code collaboration, access to school facilities, and lighting provision, and turf curator education.
