Maroondah cricketers and netballers are enjoying a new place to train, with Maroondah Edge formally open.
Located in Jubilee Park, the centre boasts five lanes for indoor cricket training, making it a one-of-a-kind facility in the Eastern Region and the first of four indoor cricket training hubs to be built in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
The new centre was formally opened on Tuesday 4 July 2023, along with three other recent improvements and sporting developments. It overlooks the premier grade Russell Lucas Oval in Jubilee Park and adds to the existing facilities for local cricket, football, tennis, soccer and croquet, along with playgrounds and Aquanation.
Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Rob Steane OAM, said the facility can be enjoyed by many members of the Maroondah community.
"Council is pleased to formally open Maroondah Edge. We are extremely proud of how the new facility meets the needs of many clubs in our community, and how this unique centre will help further raise the profile and skills of our female cricketers in the eastern suburbs," Cr Steane said.
Teams from Ringwood Cricket Club, Ringwood Football Netball Club, Ringwood Spiders All-Abilities Sports Club, Cricket Victoria and the Ringwood District Cricket Association (RDCA) are enjoying the new cricket facilities, which opened for use in June.
Clinton Kennon, Head of Customer Experience at Cricket Victoria, said the new centre will cater for current and future growth in cricket participation in Maroondah.
"Cricket Victoria is very excited to see this facility up and running. The new facilities at Maroondah Edge are fantastic and will be a real asset in the Jubilee sporting precinct and to the local community. It will also become a focal point for cricket in Melbourne's east and one of the best indoor facilities in the state," Clinton said.
"It's a friendly, welcoming environment with fit-for-purpose facilities that will lead to positive experiences for everyone involved. We have witnessed some fantastic growth in women's and girls' cricket in Maroondah and progress in all-abilities offerings. These facilities set us up for generations to come."
Vice President of Ringwood Cricket Club, Tamara Bourke, said the centre will be important for supporting players' goals.
"Growing local talent has always been a focus for the club and having access to Maroondah Edge allows us to further support the local cricket community. The focus on women's premier cricket and the development of girls' cricket is important to the club as we continue to support our players with aspirations to play for Australia," Tamara said.
"Jubilee Park is now even more attractive for hosting national cricket events, and we look forward to supporting these opportunities too."
Ringwood Cricket Club Head Coach, Chris O'Brien, said players are "already reaping the benefits" of the new centre.
"The new facilities are brilliant. A lot of time and effort has gone into the development of Maroondah Edge, and we are very lucky and excited to have this new facility that can help all of our cricket community," Chris said.
"It's a space we can call our own and really promote as an elite premier facility that will help Ringwood Cricket Club become the envy of the competition."
Chairman of the Ringwood Spiders All-Abilities Sports Club Committee, Paul House, said the new facilities are a welcome addition that will help encourage more all-abilities players to take up sport.
"Maroondah Edge both complements and enhances what we already have with the new pavilion. Both football and netball players are enjoying the ground and the social facilities.
"Our sister club, Eastern All-Abilities Netball Club, can now train at the same time as the Spiders Football Club. This allows both clubs to train at the one location for the first time and allows us to socialise after training and enjoy a meal and each other's company - something our committee has been working on and looking forward to," Paul said.
"Our club has the best ground and facility in the Football Integration Development Association competition. With support from Council and other clubs in the area, we should see a growth in the all-abilities sector."
Members of the Ringwood Football Netball Club can also train alongside each other, which will help strengthen relationships throughout the club, said Netball Coordinator, Nicole Stagg.
"Maroondah Edge will help grow our sense of community. The netball teams can now train alongside the footballers, which makes it easier for them to feel a part of the club and build relationships with the other members," Nicole said.
"We can also have dinners together after training, creating a sense of inclusiveness for the netballers and bringing everyone closer as a community. This can help bring more players and supporters to our games as well, which is a massive part of our club values."
This project has been funded by Council in partnership with the Victorian Government.
