Ribbon cut on Mounties’ cricket nets

MOUNT Clear Cricket Club members withstood the drizzle and chill to witness the official opening of their new wicket lanes on Tuesday morning.

The upgrades at Mount Clear Recreation Reserve came courtesy of $100,000 from the State Government’s 2021-22 Community Cricket Program, and $560,000 from the City of Ballarat.

Mounties’ president Andrew Vandebyl said the new lanes are a big upgrade on previous facilities in use for decades, which are set to be demolished.

“The run-ups were very difficult and if there was a bit of rain it’d turn slippery and dangerous,” he said.

“If there was a day with any drizzle, we couldn’t train. We’ve been chasing this for 10, 15 years and it’s been something that’s definitely needed.

“The whole area’s been carpeted which helps prevent damage to the balls and with

the separation and roof netting that protects kids from injury.”

The new training lanes have been in use since late February, about five weeks before the end of the last season.

Member for Eureka Michaela Settle was joined by club and municipal representatives as she opened the facilities, and said the improvements are about providing quality infrastructure for the community.

“The Mount Clear Cricket Club is a really fantastic community club with a huge juniors and most importantly the largest womens team in Ballarat with over 20 young members,” she said.

“You can really see what the club means to people in this area. We spoke to the president and he talked about being down here when people are practicing, they’re in here, and the nets are full.

“I’ve been delighted to support the club for a long time now. The old nets were one of the first things I saw and they were a pretty dangerous affair.

“It’s all about supporting this community which is such an important part of the Mount Clear community.”

The upgrades boast five fully-enclosed cricket wicket lanes, two of which are open for year-round community use.

The new nets build on the reserve’s recent improvements, including a new scoreboard installed last year, as well as pavilion and oval upgrades.

Improvements to the rec reserve’s netball facilities as well as its second oval are planned for next year.