MILDURA East Cricket Club wants to make the Mildura Sporting Precinct its new home.
President Matt Hunt said the club has had a long-standing interest in shifting from its Brian Weightman Oval base, and will enter an expression of interest with the Mildura council.
Club leaders got the all clear from members last week to proceed with an official submission.
This follows news that Imperials Football and Netball Club are also putting plans in place to move from Brian Weightman Oval to the adjacent Number 3 Oval premises which have been vacant for more than 12 months.
Hunt said club members are on board with the process.
“You obviously want to get the blessing from members before you make any moves and it was basically unanimous for us to go ahead with it when council opens it up,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve heard a major criticism about the decision as yet.
“We’ve had a long standing interest in potentially relocating and council know we’re pretty keen. But we’re also just waiting to hear more regarding their expectations from us.”
Some pressing issues had included moving from their own club rooms to shared facilities as well as the higher cost, but Hunt believes the benefits from the move would outweigh the negatives.
“It would definitely freshen everything up, going from Brian Weightman Oval to basically a first-class facility out there,” he said.
“Our home base obviously has meant so much to us and we have so much history, but we’ve also got to consider the future.
“If we were to be the club using the brand new facility hopefully that could entice potential new players, especially those moving to the region.
“You see what Mildura West has done with their home ground which looks fantastic with the white picket fence, scoreboard and the lighting system. At present it would be hard to look past them as an enticing home base.”
South Mildura Sporting Club calls MSP home for football and netball and have already secured a partnership with the South Mildura Wildcats Basketball Club.
Hunt said if the bid was successful East would look to build a close working relationship with South Mildura rather than amalgamate.
“We would remain as our own identity but we’d look to develop a close working relationship with South,” he said.
“A footy and netball club can draw more people in than a cricket club.
“In terms of actually joining or amalgamating with South, it’s not on the radar for now.”
