Cricket Australia recognises Artie Smith Oval as Community Facility Project of the Year

Cricket Australia has awarded Shoalhaven’s Artie Smith Oval with the Community Facility Project of the Year ($1M+) as part of their 2025 National Community Cricket Awards.

The national award acknowledges a club, organisation or local government authority that has developed or redeveloped a community cricket facility that has delivered upon Australian Cricket’s strategic objectives, incorporated environmentally sustainable design and facilitated successful stakeholder relationships.

The transformed Artie Smith Oval was unveiled in early 2024 and is proving to be a major drawcard for sporting groups in the Shoalhaven, including the Bomaderry Cricket Club with Council hoping to attract some major cricketing and sports events to the ground in the near future.

Shoalhaven Deputy Mayor Peter Wilkins enthused “many years and a lot of hard work has gone into refurbishing Artie Smith Oval and we’re thrilled to see the facilities recognised by Cricket Australia.

“The oval is a standout cricket facility however it also plays a pivotal role in the social and sporting lives of our local cricketers, their families and community.

“Artie Smith has become synonymous with prestige and it’s certainly a jewel in the crown for the Shoalhaven.”

Cricket Australia highlighted the upgraded facilities, such as:

• The pavilion

• Electronic scoreboard

• Shaded spectator areas

• Canteen

• Changerooms and toilet facilities

• Floodlights

• Turf and synthetic net facility.

The improvement works were jointly funded under the Australian and NSW government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Fund.  

Image top from left. Dean Hunter, Clare Crewdson, Jaimie Harding, Kevin Norwood, Cr Peter Wilkins, Fiona Phillips MP, Fiona Baxter, Callum McIlveen; image below: transformed Artie Smith Oval 2024. Credit: Shoalhaven City Council.