Cricketers enjoy enhanced facilities at Penrith’s newly improved Rance Oval

Following its recent $585,000 upgrade, Rance Oval at Werrington now offers enhanced facilities for cricket players, officials and spectators to enjoy. The Rance Oval, Werrington upgrade was identified as a priority in Penrith City Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy.

The recently completed Stage 2 infrastructure upgrade includes an expanded amenities block that now features showers in the player’s change rooms, unisex umpire change rooms, increased canteen and club storage, as well as improved public toilets. Also included in the upgrade is a new and automatic sub-surface irrigation system bringing the well-utilised site up to modern Australian standards. 

These upgrades were jointly funded by Penrith City Council and through grants awarded by the NSW Government ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund, Cricket NSW and Penrith Cricket Club.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said the project’s completion is a “huge win” for the City and notes “while Rance Oval is a popular location for Penrith Cricket Club Premier Cricket matches, as well as Penrith’s junior and senior representative teams, the state of the amenities block and grounds previously held us back from drawing more cricket players, officials and even observers to the site – until now. 

“With the improved facilities, Council can now encourage greater participation in the growing sport, on local grounds that will be in quality condition ahead of the summer season. 

“It is also fantastic to see the added unisex amenities as this will allow us to welcome more females to the fields and give Council the chance to host Women’s cricket competitions at Rance Oval going forward.” 

The NSW ICC T20 World Cup Legacy Fund supports growth in cricket participation in NSW and ensure a lasting legacy from the women’s and men’s T20 World Cups.

NSW Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the Rance Oval project is a great example of the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund benefiting grassroots and community cricket.

Minister Lee added “The Legacy Fund invests in all levels of cricket, from girls and boys picking up a bat and ball for the first time, to assisting elite players at events across NSW.

“The Fund is providing $6 million to support over 200 projects which in turn will deliver a positive impact for cricket within local communities.” 

Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said the new facilities at Rance Oval was a welcome addition to range of premier sporting facilities in the region. 

“Cricket is extremely strong in Penrith and the region has produced many NSW and Australian representatives over the years, including current Test Vice Captain, Pat Cummins. 

“The new facilities at Rance Oval will guarantee Penrith remains a breeding ground for Australia’s best cricketers and allow local players to dream of wearing the baggy green like Pat Cummins did not too long ago.”

Cricket NSW Chief Executive Lee Germon said Cricket NSW is delighted to have been involved in bringing the Rance Oval upgrades to fruition with a grant from the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund adding “Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia are committed to developing and improving facilities to help foster the love of cricket and increase participation across the broader community.

“These projects are often not possible without collaboration and a partnership approach to funding. We would like to acknowledge Penrith City Council for their ongoing support for cricket in their community, and for the contributions made by the NSW Government via the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund and by Penrith Cricket Club”.

ICC T20 World Cup Acting Chief Executive, Michelle Enright is thrilled the new facilities will have a lasting positive impact and enthused “The Local Organising Committee is delighted to be working in partnership with the NSW Government and Cricket NSW to ensure that hosting two ICC T20 World Cups in Australia has a lasting positive impact.

“We are thrilled that the Legacy Fund has assisted with the construction of new facilities at Rance Oval which will benefit the community well into the future as a direct legacy of hosting the T20 World Cup.”

Image: Lachlan Steuart (CNSW Cricket Manager - Penrith/Blue Mountains), Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM (centre) and Paul Goldsmith (President Penrith Cricket Club) at the recently completed Rance Oval facilities