Victorian Budget delivers massive boost for cricket and community

The Budget announcement includes:

• $25 million towards the development of the new Victorian Cricket & Community Centre at the Junction Oval
  
• $10 million for community cricket facilities and programs, from the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund
  
• $10 million through Sports and Recreation Victoria’s Community Facilities Funding Program for new female change amenities in facilities across all sports
  
• An $80 million boost over the next four years for Victorian major events

Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Officer Tony Dodemaide said that this investment will be enjoyed by communities right across the state, from the grassroots to the highest levels.

“This is a clear and welcome demonstration of the Government’s recognition of the importance of cricket to Victoria that will have ongoing, long term impact.

“Cricket is Victoria’s favourite sport, with more than 325,000 Victorians playing the game. Our state leads the nation in cricket participation, and the game continues to grow, particularly among females and in multicultural communities.

“Cricket Victoria has been working in close collaboration with the Victorian Government and Cricket Australia to plan a future for the sport’s facilities, programs and events that will generate maximum social and economic benefit for the entire community.

“The commitment of $10 million to community cricket will allow us to progress these plans in partnership with the Government and ensure we continue to cater to the needs of current and future generations.

“This will include investment in new multi-use facilities, particularly in regional centres, and programs focusing on diversity, female cricket and employment.

“The Victorian Cricket and Community Centre will deliver a desperately needed alternative first-class venue to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while also providing a home for female cricket, Indigenous cricket, cricket for people of all abilities and a training centre for our regional players and coaches.

“It will include the National Centre for Diversity through Cricket, building on Victoria’s leading role in program delivery for people of all cultural backgrounds.

“The development will revitalise the entire precinct and deliver multiple benefits to the surrounding community, local clubs, schools and groups through access to new facilities and activities.

“The Andrews Government’s boost to major events funding offers the opportunity for Victoria to host and continue to support an increased number of highly valuable national and international cricket events, like the internationally-renowned Boxing Day Test, so this is terrific news for Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup was a perfect illustration of the massive interest, economic benefit and job creation that cricket events in Victoria generate. The new venue at the Junction Oval will provide the capacity to attract and retain even more major events in Melbourne, but we are also seeking to expand the events calendar in Victorian regional centres.

“Cricket Victoria’s Common Ground plan identified the real facility challenges that exist in delivering for the growing number of female participants in Victoria and we are delighted to see the strong response from the Andrews Government to this critical growth issue,” Dodemaide said.
 
ENDS