Casey Fields is now equipped to better support local and premium level cricket with the completion of a new players and spectator pavilion officially opened on Saturday 4 November.
The redeveloped pavilion at ovals four and five is currently home to the Casey South Melbourne Cricket Club, and also plays host to premier level cricket including Melbourne Stars training and WBBL matches.
As part of the newly formed Metropolitan Cricket Hub, works were required to refurbish the existing pavilion and address its limited amenities, ensuring it is in a better position to accommodate increased participation and attract opportunities to the precinct.
In conjunction with various clubs, partners and users of the facility, the newly upgraded multipurpose pavilion now features:
- Female friendly player change rooms
- Medical testing room facilities
- A dedicated first aid room
- Media room
- Indoor training space
- Administrative and office space
The City of Casey has made a significant investment towards the pavilion redevelopment project, contributing $3.12 million to bring it in line with ‘community cricket facility guidelines’. The project was also made possible with a $1.35 million Victorian Government Community Cricket Program (Metropolitan Cricket and Community Centres stream) grant and a $50,000 contribution from Cricket Victoria.
Included as part of the redevelopment project is a public art piece featuring a patch of green that depicts the oval, a place where players, spectators and sports action comes together. Created by artists Mark Cutherbertson and Johnathon Thompson, the artwork will be installed on site in January.
Speaking at the opening, City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff acknowledged the support from Cricket Victoria and the State Government for their ongoing investment in Casey’s premier sporting precinct and in supporting the regions grassroots cricket community.
“These upgrades have transformed this space into a multi-use community facility to benefit the precinct's multiple users. Particularly, the inclusion of female friendly and accessible facility designs means that we are better equipped to support various users now and into the future,” Ms Duff said.
“Casey is poised to become one of Cricket Victoria’s premier metropolitan cricket and community precincts and the completion of this new pavilion helps us reach one step closer to achieving just that.”
Following the official proceedings, many attendees stayed on to watch the WBBL Melbourne Stars versus Sydney Thunder game.