This financial year, the WACA has made available a total of $25,000 in its budget to initiate a Facility Funding Program for the purpose of making a contribution towards the costs for clubs to install, replace or repair synthetic playing or training surfaces.
The fund was a recommendation of the 'Cricket Facilities – Perth Metropolitan Region – Strategic Plan 2006-2015' report. The background for aiming at synthetic surfaces is twofold:
- The WACA predicts a participation increase of approximately four percent per year for the next 10 years. This cannot occur without new facilities being initiated.
- The Fund is aimed at projects which may not necessarily be appropriate for the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF), which tends to cater for projects of a significantly higher budget. It is also recognised that there exists some funding support for turf facilities through the WACA and the WA Suburban Turf Cricket Association. (WASTCA).
Please find attached an Application Form if your club wishes to apply for funding. The form explains the criteria and closing date.
Timeline
Feb: Applications distributed
May: Applications due
June: Grants announced
Hierarchy of Facilities
Generally large or quality sport facilities tend to attract users from a wider catchment area than small or poor quality ones and tend to have a higher local public profile.
Following consultation with the relevant stakeholders, the following preferred conceptual hierarchy of facility provision has been developed for cricket. It illustrates that cricket can accommodate the career path of players moving from casual games, through junior cricket competitions and different levels of community / grade cricket to State level competition.
It is not simply the overall quantity of pitches which is important in meeting demand, but also the quality of both pitches and support amenities. Sports teams will always prefer, costs permitting, to use good facilities in preference to poorer ones and may be unable to develop and improve if they are constrained by poor facilities.
It is acknowledged that many existing facilities may not meet these preferred standards, however it is not intended that they be used as a basis for assessing the suitability of existing facilities. Rather should existing facilities be considered for upgrade, then where possible, the guidelines should be used to inform future facility development.
The following hierarchy of cricket facilities is considered to be a useful planning tool for the Perth Metropolitan Region:
Level 5
The casual game / neighbourhood cricket play level may be at a local park with little parking, limited supporting amenities and preferably within walking distance of potential users. Possible inclusion of use of practice nets facility.
Level 4
Junior competition refers to the system of introducing young people to cricket as a competitive sport. Rules suitable for underage players, including the scale of playing facilities required, are stipulated. The pitch would be synthetic with reasonable club amenities and must have adequate toilet facilities for males and females and parent parking.
Level 3
Senior Community level competition facilities include pitches which may be turf or synthetic depending on the grade or association. A higher standard of changing facilities, club accommodation, oval surface, practice wickets, possible training lights and parking would be required. These facilities meet the needs of players who have reached a higher standard of play and require enhanced facilities.
Level 2
District level competition facilities would include amenities and pitches of a higher quality than for the district senior community competition. Additional features must include a reasonable sized scoreboard and could include a fenced ground for crowd management. A District facility could have the features that would enable it to host an interstate competition in an emergency.
Level 1
Interstate level cricket competition facilities criteria are determined by Cricket Australia and extend to matters such as media provision. A copy of requirements is appended. |
