Local cricket makes net gain

Fairfield City Council invested $65,000 along with the NSW Government, Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW towards the practice facility.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said Fairfield has a proud history of grassroots and top-class cricket competition.

“Having facilities such as the new three-lane training nets at Adams Park will allow talented players to enjoy their training, get fit, hone their skills and enjoy sport with friends and family,” Mayor Carbone said.

“Fairfield City Council supports grassroots sport and is proud that we provide 38 grounds that are used by local sporting clubs week in, week out, summer and winter.

“Council will invest $21 million over the next four years improving our local parks, sports fields and amenities for local families to enjoy and for children to play organised sport and make friends.”

Minister for Sport John Sidoti said the facility is just one of many new cricket facilities in NSW being built to ensure the legacy from the ICC T20 World Cup continues for many years after the Men’s and Women’s trophies are won.

“These new training nets at Adams Park will be packed with kids practising hard to be Australia’s future cricket stars, as we see participation in the sport grow in Fairfield,” Mr Sidoti said.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting the growth of cricket participation in NSW by improving the quality and quantity of community facilities as well as attracting cricket events to regional NSW.”

ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley is thrilled the cricket nets will leave a lasting legacy in Fairfield.

“The Local Organising Committee is committed to working with our partners, including the NSW Government and Cricket NSW, to ensure that hosting the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia next year has a lasting positive impact,” Mr Hockley said.

“We are thrilled that the NSW Government’s funding assisted with the new cricket nets at Adams Park, Canley Vale which will benefit the Fairfield cricket community well beyond 2020.”

Cricket NSW Chief Executive Officer Lee Germon said facilities like these are often not possible without a partnership approach to funding.

“We would like to acknowledge and thank all that were involved in bringing this project to fruition,” Mr Germon said.

“These new nets will help foster the love of cricket and increase participation across the Fairfield community. We’re delighted to have delivered this project in partnership with all levels of government, the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Legacy Fund and Cricket Australia via the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund.”

The project was one of 55 projects to receive $1.96 million in funding during Round 1 of the program in 2018. Round 2 of the NSW ICC T20 World Cup Legacy Fund will see up to $2 million available to local cricket clubs and councils across NSW.

Photo: (l-r) Lauren Coates, Cricket NSW Community Facilities Coordinator, Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone, Karen Jones, Chief Executive NSW Office of Sport, Fairfield-Liverpool Cricket Association President Peter Moore and Andy Meikle, Cricket NSW Manager - Fairfield open the Adams Park cricket nets.