CONSTRUCTION has started on the Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence at Wilson Park where the State’s superstars and aspiring youth will benefit from world-class facilities.
Acting Minister for Sports Geoff Lee said the new home of cricket within the Sydney Olympic Park precinct will be the envy of all other states and territories.
“The designs for the new centre look sensational and I can’t wait to see the Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence rise out of the ground,” Mr Lee said.
“There will be training and playing facilities available to use for more than 35,000 club and community cricketers right across Sydney.
“The NSW Government’s investment of $30 million will also stimulate the local economy creating over 110 construction jobs and around 150 ongoing jobs once complete.”
The centre will include full and junior size playing ovals, more than 50 outdoor training nets, a community indoor centre and high-performance training facilities including gym and hot and cold recovery.
Cricket NSW Chief Executive Officer Lee Germon thanked the NSW Government for its support of the project.
“This development gives us the opportunity to ensure we can provide state of the art indoor and outdoor facilities for current and future generations of national and international players,” Mr Germon said.
“This development has been made possible thanks to the generous backing of the NSW Government, which has given wonderful support to cricket in recent years.”
NSW and Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc said the facility will provide great opportunities for local participants.
“I began playing cricket for Berala Juniors just up the road in Lidcombe. It’s fantastic that local club and community cricketers, men and women, boys and girls of all ages, will have the opportunity to train and play where their heroes train and play,” Mr Starc said.
Sydney Thunder Captain and Australian Vice-Captain Rachael Haynes said this is an exciting opportunity for generations to come.
“It will be exciting for budding cricketers to have the opportunity of training and playing alongside the best,” said Ms Haynes.
“They will all have the best chance of improving by using these facilities in academies and training squads.”
The Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence will be home to the NSW Blues and NSW Breakers squads, Sydney Thunder BBL and WBBL squads as well as the headquarters for nearly 150 Cricket NSW staff.
Construction is scheduled for completion in mid-2022.
