Ash Bolt
Keen cricketers in Bannockburn and Shelford will have new hard wickets ahead of the upcoming Geelong Cricket Association season.
Golden Plains Shire’s $75,000 Hard Wicket Replacement Program has fully funded upgrades of two wickets at the Shelford Recreation Reserve and Victoria Park in Bannockburn.
Mayor Helena Kirby said the works to local sporting facilities would help expand participation in cricket for adults and aspiring juniors.
“Cricket is a much-loved summer sport in Golden Plains and without accessible and suitable sporting infrastructure, some participants might not ever pick up the ball or take a wicket,” she said.
“The Hard Wicket Replacement Program is important to ensure local athletes are safe and enjoy returning to community sports following COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’re working on ensuring our teams, clubs, players and social community players have somewhere to get outside and have fun.
“Council is pleased to deliver the new hard wickets for cricket players of all ages in Shelford, Bannockburn and Ross Creek, as well as other Golden Plains Shire teams who will play on these new wickets this summer.”
The program was part of the shire’s commitment to improving community sporting infrastructure.
Cr Kirby said it continued to work with the state and federal governments increase participation and health and wellbeing in Golden Plains Shire.
Construction on new cricket training facilities at the recreation reserves in Lethbridge and Linton is underway and soon be available for keen cricketers to train in the nets.
The wicket at Ross Creek Recreation Reserve will also be upgraded, but work has been delayed due to wet weather.
The upgrade is now expected to happen over the cricket season’s Christmas break.
Golden Plains Shire had also previously replaced the hard wickets at the Inverleigh Sporting Complex, Rokewood Recreation Reserve and Linton Recreation Reserve.
The Geelong Cricket Association season gets underway this weekend.
