Eastlake Junior CC is starting the 2024/25 cricket season on a high with the Deakin West Oval net facility receiving a major rebuild just in time for the first round of the season.
Eastlake Junior & Senior Cricket Clubs as well as the broader community will benefit from the new nets, with four new enclosed nets and one open public net built in place of the old facilities.
The old four-lane facility had become unsafe and unusable, with what was left of the synthetic surface badly worn, ripped and severely damaged.
The project was completed by Cricket ACT’s preferred cricket training facilities supplier, Gabba Sporting Products, which included the complete removal of the old, outdated nets before the reoriented five-lane facility was constructed in its place.
The new facility includes soft internal netting, and clear marking for modified junior cricket pitch lengths.
Alongside the new nets, a new storage facility was constructed in place of the old Colourbond shed. The storage facility, larger then the last, will accommodate both clubs with storing equipment, including the turf roller for the oval, playing uniforms & playing equipment.
Eastlake Junior CC President, Mike Matthews said, “The Club is very excited to have such wonderful facilities, facilities that will continue to attract more participants to our club for many years to come.”
CACT CEO, Olivia Thornton, said, “As a cricket community, quality infrastructure is crucial to the growth of our sport and are glad that these facilities will offer a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants into the future”.
The project was made possible through funding made available from the ACT Government, Eastlake Junior Cricket Club, Eastlake Cricket Club and the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund (ACIF), a national initiative of Cricket Australia that provides funding for community cricket facility projects, with a focus on growing participation, promoting accessibility and inclusivity, and ensuring that cricket really can be a sport for all.
The ACIF is open to all clubs, associations, schools, councils, and cricket facility managers, acknowledging the important role that these partners play in providing facilities for community cricket across Australia.
The next round of Cricket ACT’s ACIF program is due to open mid-October, with an information session open to all eligible clubs, associations, schools, government agencies, and cricket facility managers being held on Tuesday 15th October 2024 6pm-7.30pm. to register for the information session, please click here.