Queensland has cemented itself as the official centre of excellence for Australian cricket after the Palaszczuk Government today went into bat to help local talent chase future success.
Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said a new $18.3 million National Cricket Campus will be established in Brisbane to bring the best coaches, sports scientists and administrators to Queensland ahead of a promising era for fans and players alike in Queensland.
“Cricket fans are already padding up for an exciting new innings of cricket in Queensland,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Our strong partnerships with Australia’s sporting bodies and their State organisations means Queensland is likely to become the home of choice for more elite programs than ever before, with the National Cricket Centre (NCC) one of the first additions,” he said.
Terry Svenson, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Cricket, said the National Cricket Campus was one of the most significant projects undertaken by Queensland Cricket as it will deliver Brisbane with the world’s best cricket training facility.
“The Campus will impact everyone from elite cricketers in our Australian and Queensland Men’s and Women’s teams, through to junior, senior and all-abilities players.
“The development of the Campus will make Queensland the home of women’s cricket in Australia, which will help to drive female participation growth and support levels for our elite women’s teams.
“We expect the Campus to create a generational legacy for our game, and we thank Minister de Brenni and his colleagues for sharing in our vision,” Mr. Svenson said.
With the first test of the 2019 Ashes about to begin a new day, so too is cricket in Queensland, with this announcement complementing the Palaszczuk Government’s $35 million investment in Gabba upgrades.
These investments are already paying off, with Cricket Australia having confirmed the first test of the 2021-22 Ashes series will once again be held at the iconic Queensland venue.
Mr de Brenni said the Palaszczuk Government’s $1.3 billion sports and recreation strategy Activate! Queensland was supporting all Queensland cricketers – from those hitting sixes at the Gabba, to those only starting out at their local oval and perhaps one day training at the National Cricket Campus.
“Activate! Queensland is about breaking down barriers and encouraging participation at all levels.
“We are also addressing the inequity of access to world-class facilities across the spectrum of Australian Cricket squads, including female and Indigenous teams,” he said.
“Activate! Queensland has enabled us to commence a re-set of the relationship between government and sporting codes, fostering a new era of growth in participation, right through to elite sporting excellence nationally and internationally.
“At it’s heart, Activate! Queensland breaks down barriers that currently prevent Queenslanders from becoming more active, more often, so that we can set new benchmarks for health and keep Queensland winning.”
The Palaszczuk Government’s contribution of $7 million will be matched by the Commonwealth with a further $4.24 million coming from Cricket Queensland.
