Sunshine Coast facility named Cricket Australia Community Project of the Year

An indoor training facility in Caloundra has has taken out a national Cricket Australia award for Community Facility Project of the Year.

The Caloundra Cricket Club facility was jointly funded by the Club, Sunshine Coast Council and the Queensland Government.

It features four synthetic turf wickets and a practice net with a customised surface specifically for spin bowling, retractable nets, a mezzanine floor with an office and lockers and specialist lighting, which allows for slow motion video to assist with training.

There are also water tanks to collect water from the roof for field irrigation, making maintenance more sustainable.

Sunshine Coast Councillor Tim Dwyer said the Council had designed the facility and managed the construction process, explaining “(the) Council is very proud to have been so closely involved with the design and development of this fantastic facility that is improving cricket opportunities on the Sunshine Coast.”

Caloundra Cricket Club Manager Mick Davis accepted the award during a recent presentation at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Davis explained “our indoor facility is one of a kind for Queensland, outside of Brisbane.

“It’s the state’s only centre of this standard other than the Australian Centre of Excellence at Brisbane's Allan Border Oval.

“Since opening, we have hosted the Under 15 Australian Championships and have welcomed a Papua New Guinea squad to play a few games.

“Visiting clubs have been so impressed with the designs for the indoor centre that they have asked for the plans with the hope of fundraising for a similar facility

“We expect to attract more national and international players to Caloundra now that we have this drawcard.”

As well as providing a training base for Caloundra’s senior and junior cricketers, the facility is also used by a kindergarten for play activities, and by the Compass Institute, Currimundi Special School and Caloundra Christian College.

Image: The Caloundra Cricket Club's Mick Davis with the Cricket Australia award. 

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