Work on the final stage of the world-class National Cricket Campus facility in Brisbane has commenced with an official sod-turning ceremony today ahead of the redevelopment of the Allan Border Field precinct this year.
The redevelopment of the precinct, Stage C of the project that includes work on both Allan Border Field and Ray Lindwall Oval, will commence this month and follows the successful completion last year of the first two stages at the Shaw Road home of Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club at nearby Kalinga.
The Campus comprises three stages across the Shaw Road Redevelopment (Stages A & B) and the Allan Border Field Precinct Redevelopment (Stage C). It will provide facilities that can be utilised by international, national, and state teams, pathway programs and community cricket clubs.
It also encompasses the Bupa National Cricket Centre at Albion which sits adjacent to Allan Border Field.
As Australian Cricket's leading national infrastructure project, the $18.8 million project is supported by the Australian and Queensland Governments, Brisbane City Council, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club.
Queensland construction firm Hutchinson Builders has been appointed as the principal contractor to complete Stage C after successfully delivering Stages A and B at Shaw Road.
The scope of works for the redeveloped Allan Border Field will see the expansion of the oval on the eastern side, while the revamped precinct will see new off-field facilities, improved drainage, terrace seating and the installation of an electric scoreboard.
The upgrade will include five new training pitches as part of the refurbishment of the Ray Lindwall Oval as well as the expansion of the Allan Border Field centre block to include additional pitches.
As occurred at Shaw Road, there will be different soil types included in the training pitches and centre block to enable ground staff to prepare pitches that replicate conditions in other states and countries.
While Allan Border Field is under redevelopment until May 2022, the three fields and training pitches at Shaw Road will be employed to service playing and training requirements for Australia, Queensland, and community clubs.
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia's Chief Executive Officer, said:
"This is another significant milestone on the way to completing a vital piece of national infrastructure that will have wide-ranging, positive impacts throughout our sport, from our national squads through to community level," he said.
"The project has only been made possible through the close collaboration and partnership support of the Australian Government, Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Cricket and Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club.
"On behalf of everyone at Cricket Australia, we thank you for your involvement in this project and look forward to seeing the impact this redevelopment has on growing the game for generations to come."
Queensland Cricket Chairman Chris Simpson congratulated all partners in the project.
"The foresight to identify Brisbane as a centrepiece of the National Cricket Campus by current and former administrators and directors will be realised in the next 12 months,'' he said.
"The completion of the Allan Border Field redevelopment will complete the vision that Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia had for this facility as a substantial contributor to the strength and depth of Australian Cricket."
Hon Trevor Evans MP, Federal Member for Brisbane, said:
"Brisbane is increasingly seen as the home of cricket in Australia. But this project is exciting not only for the city, but for the entire cricket community around the country.
"I'm proud to have delivered $7 million in funding from the Australian Government to help make this project happen, and it is fantastic to see it now coming to fruition," Mr Evans said.
"These new facilities will ensure that all our cricketers have the amenities and playing grounds to thrive, as well nurture our next generation of Tim Paines and Meg Lannings".
Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Queensland Minister for Sport, said the Palaszczuk Government had committed $7 million to the National Cricket Campus.
"We recognise the significance of this project to Queensland's COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan through its support for more than 300 trade jobs during construction," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"As a world-class centre of cricket excellence, once complete, the Campus will continue to drive economic activity through high-performance training programs for national and international teams.
"The National Cricket Campus creates new cricket pathways for women and new possibilities for young Queenslanders during our transformative decade ahead.
"This complex will put Brisbane at the centre of the nation's elite cricket training and development universe."
The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Adrian Schrinner, said:
"Brisbane has transformed into a world-class sporting city and the National Cricket Campus redevelopment would cement this status.
"Once complete, the National Cricket Campus will be state-of-the-art where all levels of cricket, no matter age or experience, can use facilities that are of international standards," Cr Schrinner said.
"With facilities that enable use year-round, I know the campus will play an important part in developing our city's next generation of cricketing talent while also providing Brisbane with another premier venue to host first-class cricket matches."
Hutchinson Builders Chairman Scott Hutchinson said:
"Hutchies is proud to again be working with Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket on the next stage of what will be the best cricket training and playing fields in the country."
