Cricketers in the Lower Mountains will soon benefit from improved training facilities to be constructed at Knapsack Park, Glenbrook.
The high quality, three-lane cricket training nets with the latest wicket technology will replace the existing training nets, currently located at Lapstone Oval.
At a cost of close to $90,000, the new facilities are being funded by a combination of federal, state, local government grants, contributions from cricketing associations and the Blaxland Glenbrook Cricket Club’s fundraising activities.
Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman and Blue Mountains mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, joined Blaxland Glenbrook Cricket Club president Richard Tewson to present the club with a $7000 Macquarie Stronger Communities Grant.
“I’m delighted to be able to help provide this wonderful resource for Lower Mountains cricketers,” Ms Templeman said. “As I explained to the young team I met midway through their game against Cranebrook, this is the result of years of hard work and determination by the parents and volunteers of Glenbrook Blaxland Cricket Club.
“Some of the boys and girls had visited me at Parliament House in the past year, and I reminded them that this was a great example of the federal and local tiers of government working well together.”
Blue Mountains mayor, Mark Greenhill, said, “The combination of all this will lead to an outcome players, parents and the wider community will be very proud of.”
Mr Tewson said new facilities were desperately needed because existing nets were not up to standard.
“Both of the nets currently available face east/west instead of north/south, making it dangerous in the afternoon setting sun as you cannot see ball being hit back at you,” he said.
“These new nets also address other health and safety standards, with full concrete run up reducing the risk of injury and extended net barriers greatly reducing the chances of being hit by a ball.
“Our junior players are the future of cricket and our club – they deserve to have the best training facilities available to them.
“Our club has been at the forefront of encouraging girls competitions and women’s social teams, together with wanting to develop all abilities cricket for people with disabilities,” he said. “At the moment, we simply do not have enough facilities to sustain growth. These new nets will help us cater for our growing requirements.”
