SUNRAYSIA cricket chiefs have set their sights on the new Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct becoming Victoria’s third first-class facility in a bid to host Sheffield Shield games.
Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) president Andrew Farlie said both Victoria and South Australia’s shield teams could play games in Mildura after the $44 million sports venue opens later this year.
“It would be a good showcase for those two teams to come to Mildura to play at some stage,” Mr Farlie said this week.
“And the facility should allow that. We just have to make sure it’s rated as a first-class facility.
“There used to be a number of issues over how it could be televised – but I think it’s more doable nowadays.
“Victoria only has the MCG and Junction Oval as first-class-rated grounds at this stage, so we could possibly be a third option.”
Sunraysia Daily can also reveal three local clubs are in the running to be the anchor cricket tenant at the precinct.
“It’s all in discussion with (Mildura Rural City Council) at the moment, but there were certainly three (clubs) that put in an initial expression of interest (to move to the new venue),” Mr Farlie said
“We’re hoping to have a tenant club at the facility. That’s still up for tender – and council haven’t made a call on it yet.
“Certainly, with the ($275,000) investment Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia have put into it, we know we’ll have some access to it to play some club games, as well as representative games.”
Mr Farlie ruled out a ninth SCA club being formed to play at the new ground.
“There’s not enough population to sustain a new club for another five senior and four junior teams,” he said.
He said the new start-of-the-art facility opened up a raft of playing options for local cricket.
“With the lights at the oval, (this will allow us) the flexibility to reschedule games at night if there are extreme temperatures around.
“It could also be the local grand final venue for the top two senior grades.
“There’s also the prospect of women’s national league games coming here, and pre-season camps for the bigger men’s teams.”
The first stage of the project is due for completion in mid-2021, with the first local tenants expected to move in by October.
However, a number of local sporting bodies and ratepayers that Sunraysia Daily has spoken with have concerns about the long-term viability of the precinct.
Major stadiums around the world have a long history of not being able to pay for themselves.
The Daily asked the council – which has contributed $11.3 million to the project – what the estimated running costs were for the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct each year.
“A number of items are still to be confirmed due to the changing operational requirements that are impacted by COVID-19,” a council spokesman said.
“As we’ve done throughout development of the precinct, we’re continuing to work closely with future tenants and sporting groups on the specific operational details.
“Once completed, the precinct will provide improved facilities for players and more scope for clubs and sports to grow.
“It will also be an important economic driver for the region through visitor numbers at major events and a source of employment.”
The spokesman said council staff were in talks with “a number of state and national bodies” in bids to host major cricket, netball, AFL, basketball and volleyball games at the precinct.
