This morning, Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Helena Kirby and Michaela Settle MP, Member for Buninyong, joined members of the Linton Cricket Club to announce funding for a new cricket training facility at Linton Recreation Reserve.
The $202,550 initiative is a partnership project, with the Victorian Government contributing $100,000 from its 2019-2020 Community Cricket Program – Community Facilities Fund. Council has invested $72,500 and also secured a grant from the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund for $30,000.
Construction of the cricket training facility including three new cricket nets and associated fencing will begin early next year following the current cricket season.
The Linton Cricket Club currently has the highest number of teams participating in the Grenville Cricket Association with two senior, one under-16 and one under-12 teams participating on a weekly basis, as well as running an under 8 skill development program. Currently 23% of junior participants at the club are females, with a trend of greater female participation emerging in the current senior teams.
The installation of the new three-bay training facility will allow increased capacity for more training times and non-structured training opportunities for the Linton community; increased skill development due to the availability of a usable facility and an additional net; create opportunities for the Linton Cricket Club to encourage new users and new programs such as female teams; increase club participation due to beginner level skill development with the hope of attracting further female participants; and provide a safe training facility for the club and community.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby says the new training facility will be a great asset for the Linton community.
“Last year, Council fully funded a new hard cricket wicket at the Linton Recreation Reserve and we’re pleased to return today to share the good news of the new training facility with the Linton community. Council thanks the Victorian Government for partnering on this great project and local Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle MP for supporting our local clubs and community facilities in Golden Plains Shire.
“The Linton Cricket Club is a wonderful local sporting group and we’re so pleased to have developed the idea of a new training facility to a reality. The new facility will support the club to attract new members and will strengthen participation by local female and junior players.”
Michaela Settle MP says sporting facilities are an important investment in regional Victoria.
“New cricket nets for Linton will inspire more boys, girls, men and women to sign up for the Linton Cricket club, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1863.”
“We’re getting on with the job of creating better facilities for our next generation, so they can emulate their sporting heroes such as Aaron Finch, who got his start at his local cricket club in regional Victoria.”
