Brumby commits $19.7 million to transform the Junction Oval
In one of the major announcements of Cricket Victoria's proud history, this morning Premier John Brumby revealed the transformation of the Junction Oval into a world-class multi-million dollar cricket and community Centre.
Premier Brumby, flanked by cricket legend Shane Warne, announced a re-elected Labor Government would invest $19.7 million to redevelop the facility.
The new facility would include a boutique stadium, an indoor sports and training centre to strengthen Victorian and Australian cricket and to ensure Victorians continue to dominate the sport on the world stage.
Cricket Victoria’s Chief Executive, Tony Dodemaide said the commitment from the Brumby Government marked an important day for Victorian cricket.
“We are thrilled with the Premier pledging $19.7 million dollars to the proposed state of the art cricket facility,” Dodemaide said.
“The State Cricket and Community Centre has been a long term project for Cricket Victoria, the funding will allow us to make our dream of having a centralised home for cricket a reality.
“It’s an exciting day for us as the centre will be instrumental in developing and supporting cricket at all levels.
“There’s still a long way to go with the project but as of today we’re a step closer to making it actually happen.”
Under the revamp, the Junction Oval would be converted into a 5,000-capacity stadium capable of hosting first-class domestic matches while new elite state training facilities would also be established.
The spiritual home of cricket will always remain at the hallowed MCG but a new dedicated elite competition and training centre – which will be open to the elite and up-and-coming talent throughout the year will help Victorian cricket grow and prosper.
The Premier also lent his support to Cricket Victoria’s proposal to re-name the St Kilda cricket ground, the Shane Warne Oval. Warne said he was humbled by the possibility.
“It’s amazing and a real privilege really,” Warne said.
“When Cricket Victoria approached me about it I was a bit knocked back, I thought wow, I grew up at the Junction Oval, I remember watching Bernie Quinlan playing there and I played football down there too.
“If it comes off I will be pretty proud standing there, after I grew up playing cricket there my whole life.”
It’s anticipated that the construction period will commence in 2012 and will take in the order of 18 months to complete.
The redevelopment would also include:
– The re-location of Cricket Victoria’s offices to the Junction Oval
– Health and wellness facilities, including aquatic recovery, gymnasium and a fitness studio;
– A multi-purpose indoor sporting centre and sports medicine facilities;
– An international standard playing surface;
– First-class practice wickets, scoreboard and refurbished grandstands;
– Dedicated multimedia and broadcast facilities; and
– Community meeting and educational facilities including lecture theatres and classrooms.
Cricket Victoria will also use the complex to play an important role in the promotion of women’s sport by providing a dedicated home for the women’s team and development programs and integration of students from the sub-continent.
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