Liam McNally
Melton council will need 21 new cricket ovals and nine new football ovals by 2032 to meet an expected growing demand.
In the council’s football and cricket strategies which were tabled at the December council meeting, it said it was expected there would be more than 2000 new players across the two sports.
The reports said that there would have to be 21 new cricket ovals and nine new football ovals to cater for all those participating in the sports, with many ovals to be used be multipurpose facilities catering for both sports, along with others.
The cost to implement the new grounds in the cricket strategy is almost $200 million, and the football strategy more than $60 million.
Both sports are set to grow within Melton grow alongside the rest of the municipality during the next decade, with council approving two new strategies which will guide development for the sports.
The strategies aim to grow the sport through the provision of high-quality facilities and diverse participation opportunities in the area.
Each strategy also recommended spending more than $13 million upgrading existing facilities.
The majority of the new cricket sites are planned for the eastern corridor of Melton, between Plumpton and Mt Atkinson, while the majority of the football sites are planned for the western corridor.
The strategies plan for the development of seven new cricket clubs and four new football clubs for the area. The strategy also allows for a range of clubs to create a “model for sustainable participation” to avoid developing a small number of “super clubs” that can lead to uneven competitions and lower social connection.
Melton councillor Steve Abboushi said these strategies are a part of 13 sport development strategies council is working on.
“Everyone deserves to take part in sports and playing sports should be accessible, inclusive, affordable, and close to where you live,” he said.
“That’s what we’re delivering with these strategies, it’s a vision for sport for everyone.
“Our sporting community are the greatest experts when it comes to what we need, the insights and experience local clubs have shared are at the heart of this strategy.”
