We replaced the non-compliant two-lane practice nets at Barnawartha Recreation Reserve with a three-lane facility for use by the Barnawartha-Chiltern Miners Cricket Club.
The redevelopment of the cricket practice nets was funded by the Victorian Government’s 2022 Community Cricket Program – Community Facilities Stream.
The redevelopment provides a new three-lane cricket practice facility that is compliant with Cricket Victoria guidelines. The new nets will encourage the uptake of cricket and skill development as the poor condition of the existing nets and uneven pitches was seen to be limiting participation, particularly by juniors, female players and new members.
Just in time for the upcoming season, the new cricket nets are complete. The Barnawartha-Chiltern Miners Cricket Club is now able to develop its skills in three enclosed practice lanes that are compliant with Cricket Victoria guidelines.
The synthetic grass has now been laid and only the soft netting for the dividing lanes and roof remains to be completed.
The concrete base slab is now complete and chain mesh has been added to the fencing. The site is now ready for the artificial surfacing and soft netting to be installed, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.
Works have been progressing at the Barnawartha Recreation Reserve with the concrete slab for the new cricket practice nets now ready to pour. Following this, the fencing will be completed and the new synthetic surface laid.
A contract has been awarded to complete the construction of the new cricket nets, with site works expected to commence in March 2023.
The existing cricket nets have already been removed by the cricket club.
To minimise disruption, it is planned that the major works will be completed prior to the start of the football season, with the new synthetic surface to be laid as soon as it becomes available.
The cricket nets upgrade is a priority project on the masterplan developed by the Barnawartha Recreation Reserve Committee of Management. The Barnawartha-Chiltern Cricket Club has been consulted in the design of the new practice nets and it has been approved by Cricket Albury-Wodonga.