Cricket NSW in Australia has announced a host of priority infrastructure and community projects seeking investment by political parties ahead of March’s NSW State Election.
The wish list of over 170 prospective community projects contained in a document, ‘A plan to grow Australia’s favourite sport – priorities 2023-2027’, features over 170 local community and five major infrastructure projects, alongside regional, mental health and multicultural funding.
Amongst the areas of focus for funding over the next four years that has been outlined by Cricket NSW are:
• Over 170 local community cricket projects, including works in every electorate in the State.
• $8m for upgrades to Newcastle No. 1 to ensure first-class cricket can return to the Hunter.
• $8.5m for upgrades to North Sydney Oval to consolidate its position as the home of women’s cricket.
• Further investigation into a potential site within the Hunter Park precinct for a new 15,000-seat boutique stadium.
• $5m to allow a raft of cricket, from elite to community level, to be played across Regional NSW.
• A partnership with the NRL, AFL and Netball NSW to deliver bespoke mental health programs.
• Multicultural programs including $50,000 to research and develop targeted programs for South Asian communities in NSW.
• A Masterplan for the SCG.
Cricket NSW have also proposed a continuation of a number of successful government grant programs, including the Multi-Sport Facility Fund, Active Kids Vouchers, Regional Sport Facility Fund, Female Friendly Community Sport, Facilities and Lighting, Local Sport Grant Program and Greater Cities Sport Facility Fund.
Cricket NSW CEO, Lee Germon, said the release of the priorities document provided an opportunity for political parties to invest in cricket across NSW ahead of the State Election in March.
“This presents an opportunity to work with political parties and candidates and promote opportunities to invest in Australia’s favourite sport,” Germon said. “Cricket is often the fabric that binds local communities, and when local cricket does well, local communities prosper. This document provides a footprint for the growth of cricket in NSW from a local community level right through to first-class cricket.”