Boost for National Cricket Campus
8 April 2019
Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation
Australia’s top notch cricketers and up and comers are a step closer to a new National Cricket Campus in Brisbane after the project received a $7 million boost from the Morrison Government.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment would help redevelop Allan Border Field into a hub for female cricket as well as transform the Shaw Road community facility to grow junior participation in cricket.
"This is about taking cricket in Australia to the next level with world-class facilities," the Prime Minister said.
"Whether it’s our conquering Australian women’s team or those local clubs fostering the skills of our next Tim Paine or Meg Lanning, these are the sorts of investments we can make because of our plan for a stronger economy."
LNP Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans said he had backed the National Cricket Campus vision from the start.
"We’re cementing Brisbane’s place at the heart of cricket in Australia," Mr Evans said.
"Every day I see kids and community teams out on Brisbane’s pitches and in the nets practising and this investment in the National Cricket Campus is for them.
"Our funding boost is also set to create 300 jobs to support the project and cricket will deliver even more for our economy by an increase in domestic training camps, national performance programs and international and interstate trips."
Minister for Sport Bridget McKenzie said the Campus would be the training base for Australia’s men’s and women’s sides as well as hosting women’s internationals matches, state and national championships and the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League and Premier Cricket matches.
"Women’s cricket in Australia is going from strength to strength and these new facilities lock in an even brighter future for cricket in Queensland and across Australia," Minister McKenzie said.
"As more young players come through cricket we’re focused on giving them the tools and coaching they need so they can reach their potential. Alongside the Bupa National Cricket Centre our funding boost will help deliver the world’s best integrated indoor and outdoor cricket campus."
The funding for the National Cricket Campus complements the Morrison Government’s other significant investments to support female sport including:
$150 million to support the development of female change room facilities at sporting grounds, and upgrades of community swimming facilities across the country;
$100 million for the highly successful Community Sport Infrastructure program which has already provided funding for 458 community based sporting projects;
$12 million to support Tennis Australia boost female participation at a grassroots level;
$15 million to redevelop Ikon Park in Melbourne as the home of AFLW in Victoria; and
$15 million to establish a new state-of-the-art sports and events venue in Springfield, Queensland, to get more women into sport.
Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket have together already committed $4.25 million towards the $18 million project.
The remaining $7 million required for the project will now be sought from State and Local Governments.
