Victorian Cricket and Community Centre works commence

Minister for Sport John Eren today joined Member for Albert Park Martin Foley, Cricket Victoria CEO Tony Dodemaide and Cockram’s Australian General Manager, Darren Milne at Junction Oval, where early works inside the Blackie Ironmonger Stand have begun.

The centre will give Victoria’s star cricketers the high performance home they deserve and today’s beginning of demolition works delivers on the commitment that construction would commence this year.

Minister for Sport, John Eren said: “We’re getting on with the job of delivering a world-class venue for our champion cricketers.”

“We promised works would begin on Junction Oval before the end of 2015, and we’ve delivered on that commitment.

“Cricket is our national summer pastime, and we’re committed to giving the game the resources it needs to grow.”

The project includes an additional ICC-compliant first-class ground for Melbourne and will include administrative areas, a base for Victoria’s cricket teams, and the very latest medical and rehabilitation facilities.

Member for Albert Park, Martin Foley said: “Junction Oval has a rich history, and we’re committed to ensuring it has an exciting future.”

“The Victorian Cricket and Community Centre will give the game’s elite the best facilities they need, and the community a state-of-the-art venue it can be proud to call its own.”

Mr Eren also announced Cockram Construction would lead the early works stage of the redevelopment. The leading company boasts an impressive portfolio, including the installation of cutting-edge IT infrastructure at the MCG and the Aqualink Box Hill Redevelopment.

Cricket Victoria CEO, Tony Dodemaide said: “The Victorian Cricket and Community Centre development will bring Victoria’s high performance facilities up to speed with most of their interstate rivals.”

“This new first class cricket ground will help address Victoria’s comparative disadvantage to other states, enabling us to regularly attract and host major cricket events that will not only entertain and inspire cricket lovers but generate strong ongoing economic benefit.”

The Victorian Cricket and Community Centre is being funded in partnership with the Victorian Government, Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia.