$600,000 CRANFIELD OVAL REDEVELOPMENT IS A GREAT HOME RESULT FOR YOUNG SPORTING SIDES
Monday April 16, 2018
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke gave a big thumbs up on Saturday when she went to check out redevelopment progress at Cranfield Oval in Young.
The home of Young Yabbies Rugby Union Football Club and Young and District Cricket Association is undergoing redevelopment thanks in part to a $600,000 grant from the $15 million Stronger Communities Fund.
“It’s wonderful to be in Young here today – the Yabbies have got their first home game on this newly renovated ground at Cranfield Oval,” said Ms Cooke.
“The Stronger Communities Fund, this $15 million that we are investing into Hilltops Council, is fantastic, and $600,000 of it is coming right here to Cranfield,” she added.
“I can’t wait to see the rest of this project unfold - it’s fantastic to be part of the NSW Government which continues to deliver wonderful sporting infrastructure in small towns and communities right here in the Cootamundra electorate,” she said.
According to Young Yabbies Rugby Union Football Club president Cec Finley, the grant will make a huge difference to the club.
“The major works that have been carried out down there are the switching from a single north-south oval to two east-west ovals, which means we can keep one for main games and have one to train on,” said Mr Finley.
“The grant was extremely timely – Ms Cooke’s predecessor Katrina Hodgkinson did a lot of work in securing the grant and Ms Cooke has followed that on and has been a big supporter of improving sporting facilities in Young, which is fantastic,” he said.
“And I can’t speak highly enough of Hilltops Council employees – they have worked magnificently to get this oval in order for this weekend,” Mr Finley added.
Jason Hall, president of Young and District Cricket Association said the upgrades so far will transform the town’s cricket season.
“This is something that we’ve needed for years, because until now winter sports have been played on top of the cricket pitch and we’ve not been able to play until after Christmas – now we can start in October,” he said.
Hilltops Council’s Mayor Brian Ingram pointed out what this upgrade means to the community.
“I’m so pleased to see this work providing so many sporting clubs with a first-class facility,” he said.
“Hilltops Council wants the best for everybody who lives in this wonderful part of NSW, and I firmly believe that Cranfield Oval helps us with this goal.”
