$1.3m net gain for ambitious Snakes

Caboolture Sports Cricket Club has officially opened South East Queensland’s top domestic cricket development centre in Morayfield.

The $1.3 million purpose-built venue at Grant Rd, Morayfield, is a first for the Moreton Bay Region and only topped by Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

Caboolture Snakes’ development centre has five nets, changing rooms, air-conditioning, LED lighting and a tilt concrete slab to stop bat-on-ball noise disturbing neighbours.

It was funded by Caboolture Sports Club and Moreton Bay Regional Council through their new Sports Infrastructure Partnership.

Long-term goal

The centre will not host social cricket matches, but could be vital in the Snakes’ long-term goal of playing in the Queensland Premier Grade competitions.

Caboolture Sports has dominated the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association top league for years, on occasion winning all the premierships and grand finals.

“Our new facility’s focus is on cricket skill development and supporting cricket development pathways for emerging and talented local players,” Snakes’ president Steve Adams says.

Focus on skill

“Cricket player success is about acquiring sound fundamental skills using quality coaching and continuing to develop player’s skills to maximise their potential and ultimately have the best chance of gaining higher level selections,” he says.

“We now have a quality dedicated cricket facility right here in Morayfield that will focus on skill development.

“This will not only assist our higher-level teams but equally important, our juniors and new female players that are coming into the game.”

Funding first

The development centre is the first major product of a new funding agreement between Moreton Bay Regional Council and Caboolture Sports Club (CSC).

“We’ve been able to put $400,000 of the Caboolture Sports Club money into additional cricket wickets, sightscreens, picket fencing and infrastructure will hopefully get us into the Brisbane competition in the near future,” CSC Group CEO Kelvin Patch says.

When Moreton Bay Regional Council agreed to a funding partnership with Caboolture Sports Club this year, “we didn’t want it to be a token gesture,” Mayor Peter Flannery says.

Cracking start

“Looking at this fantastic new facility, I can confidently say we’re off to a cracking start,” he says.

“Through its incredible junior and senior programs, the Snakes have done an amazing job promoting the game of cricket locally.”

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