Uncertain future for Kitchener cricket

It could be stumps for cricket at Gunnedah’s Kitchener Park under proposed changes put forward by a new master plan.

Future plans for the historic sport facility were recently released for public exhibition by Gunnedah Shire Council.

Central to the plan is redefining Kitchener Park as a site” dedicated to rugby league” and relocating all cricket games to other Gunnedah venues.

“Cricket use is proposed to be removed from Kitchener Park oval and relocated to a new oval in the Riverside Precinct,” the report states.

It is also suggested that cricket could be relocated to Wolseley Park – Gunnedah’s second major cricket ground.

Gunnedah and District Cricket Association president Sam Doubleday was shocked to first hear about the proposed changes via the media.

Given the cricket association is one of the major users of the Kitchener facility, he was baffled by the lack of consultation – especially given the sport’s long history at the venue.

“We have played cricket at Kitchener for as long as I can remember,” Doubleday said.

“It is a bit disappointing to hear about it in this way.”

The long-time club cricketer also questioned how council would recover the extra revenue which the association currently pays to use Kitchener Park.

“Are ratepayers going to chip in to upkeep the ground through the summer months?” he asked.

Doubleday said the association will be making a submission to the pubic exhibition to formally state its views on the master plan.

The master plan states Kitchener would retain the existing practice cricket nets but relocated slightly and constructed as fully enclosed nets to maximise safety of park users.

Analysis of Kitchener Park playing surface noted although turf condition remains in good condition year-round through winter, refurbishment was last “redone” 37 years ago and is now becoming uneven.

Additionally, the cricket wicket in centre of the field was identified as a major impediment and “makes hosting premier league or NRL games impossible due to the injury risk”. Furthermore, the existing halogen lighting system at Kitchener was rated as good but expensive to operate.

Under the master plan proposed changes, the main oval at Kitchener Park would be renovated and reshaped, with a new boundary fence aligned with the rectangular playing field.

The plan states an improved warm-up space or “mini field” would be developed adjacent to Osric Street. According to the report, this area would be suitable for warm up, casual recreation, and use by nearby schools for physical education classes, reducing wear on the main oval playing surface. An improved “warm up area” was among the wish list items identified in the master plan.

Other proposed changes include upgrade of existing club building facilities and amenities with dedicated men and women’s change rooms; replace existing grandstand seating to provide improved structure, with shade and shelter; upgrading the existing tennis and basketball courts and the development of a learn-to-ride facility near the recently completed, inclusive playground at the corner of Conadilly and Wentworth streets.

Former Cricket Australia director and Gunnedah Cricket Association life member, Mike Silver, was also disappointed by the planned changes to Kitchener.

His main concern was not the relocation of cricket to other venues but timelines and how they are implemented.

“There needs to be more consideration of the impact on the social fabric of the community,” he said.

A long-time cricket player and administrator in Gunnedah, Mr Silver recalled how Kitchener – which originally was much bigger in size – was once revered as the premier cricket ground in Gunnedah.

Such was cricket’s influence in Gunnedah, he said the sport often brought many people to town for major carnivals, primarily because of the quality of the fields. But today Gunnedah has not seen a major cricket carnival in town for more than a decade.

If cricket did cease at Kitchener as proposed, Mr Silver also questioned how Gunnedah Shire Council anticipated to utliise the venue during football off-season.

“What is their business case?” he asked.

A Gunnedah Shire Council spokesperson said the Gunnedah Cricket Association was offered the chance to be involved in the initial consultation process such as site visits to Wolseley and Kitchener parks and a community meeting at the town hall.

“Nil club representatives turned up for the site visits but two cricket representatives did attend the community session at the town hall and provided a lot of commentary and information,” the council spokesperson said.

“The exhibition period is another chance for all community members including specific user groups like cricket to have a say on the draft plans.

Additionally, council said it contacted all user groups last week including the cricket association to advise them of the draft master plans current exhibition period, where to find them and the process of how to submit a public submission. Groups were also advised another round of public consultation sessions will be held in the “very near future” with dates yet to be confirmed.

The Kitchener Park Master Plan is now on public exhibition at council and open for submissions. To view the plan or make a submission, visit gunnedah.nsw.gov.au