Works begin on new cricket nets at Russell Square

The City of Ballarat has begun works to install six new cricket nets at Russell Square. 

Works this week commenced on the $517,163 project, which includes $500,000 in funding from the City of Ballarat and $17,163 from the Victorian Government, to provide five cricket nets for the East Ballarat Cricket Club and a sixth cricket net dedicated to the community for use year-round. 

The project includes earthworks and the installation of a new synthetic base and state-of-the-art nets with fully enclosed soft netting, providing a safer environment for players and people passing by - preventing cricket balls from escaping the nets. 

Russell Square is home to the East Ballarat Cricket Club. The works will provide five new cricket training bays for the club, superseding its outdated infrastructure. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the upgrade and additional nets will help support the East Ballarat Cricket Club, which is now home to four senior teams and 15 junior teams. 

Cr Moloney said the nets will also allow anyone in the community to participate in cricket thanks to the dedicated community lane, which will remain open for public access. 

“The City of Ballarat is proud to support this fantastic project through the Ballarat Recreation Capital Improvement Program, which has upgraded a number of sporting facilities across our municipality,” he said.  

“Our community sports clubs require and deserve good facilities for training and play. With these new nets, the East Ballarat Cricket Club will be able to better cater to its fast-growing junior membership.” 

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said local sporting clubs play a pivotal role in the health and wellbeing of our community.  

“I’m delighted that the Andrews Labor Government is supporting this City of Ballarat project, which will construct six safe and fit for purpose cricket nets at Russell Square,” she said.  

“This investment in community sport will benefit East Ballarat Cricket Club and the precinct, while also supporting local jobs.”  

Global Turf Projects in Macedon was awarded the contract. Global Turf Projects also completed the cricket nets at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve and Eastern Oval and is constructing the new nets at Doug Dean Reserve. All sub-contractors and materials are being sourced from Ballarat.  

The works are expected to be completed in April, well ahead of the East Ballarat Cricket Club’s 2022-2023 cricket season.