Cricket ACT proudly congratulates Eastlake Junior Cricket Club and the ACT Government on being named joint winners of the ‘Community Facility Project of the Year (Minor Category - <$1M)’ at the 2025 Cricket Australia National Community Cricket Awards.
Announced during National Volunteer Week, the prestigious awards celebrate outstanding contributions across 16 categories, recognising individuals, clubs, and organisations that have made a lasting impact on their communities through cricket.
The award-winning project involved the redevelopment of the cricket training nets at Deakin West Oval, a vital community facility that had become unsafe and unusable due to severe wear and damage.
“This award recognises the power of collaboration in delivering high-quality, sustainable cricket facilities that support participation and community engagement,” said Cricket ACT Infrastructure Manager, Lauren Coates.
“The new Deakin West nets will serve generations of players and volunteers, reinforcing cricket’s role as a sport for all.”
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Eastlake and the ACT Government, the site now boasts a state-of-the-art five-lane training facility, including:
- Four enclosed nets and one open public net
- Soft internal netting and junior pitch markings
- A new, larger storage facility replacing the old Colourbond shed, providing space for turf rollers, uniforms, and playing equipment
Officially opened in October 2024, the redevelopment was delivered by Gabba Sporting Products, Cricket ACT’s preferred supplier, and funded through a partnership between the ACT Government, Eastlake Junior and Senior Cricket Clubs, and the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund (ACIF), a national initiative supporting inclusive and accessible community cricket projects.
The upgraded facility is already being enjoyed by Eastlake’s junior and senior teams, as well as the broader Canberra cricket community.