Club statement regarding the redevelopment of Wallarah & Blackley ovals

Dear Members and Supporters,

We wish to provide a clear update concerning the proposed redevelopment of Wallarah and Blackley Ovals into a basketball stadium, along with our club’s stance, as there are varied and conflicting messages currently being circulated.

Firstly, while we acknowledge the need for upgraded facilities for Newcastle Basketball, it is crucial to state unequivocally that the Western Suburbs Junior Cricket Club (WSJCC) strongly opposes the transformation of our cherished green spaces and cricket grounds into a basketball stadium. This stance has not been taken lightly, but with the best interests of our members and the children in the area in mind, reflecting our dedication to preserving the sport's legacy and promoting its future within our community. We have made this position known to both Cricket NSW (CNSW) and the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association (NJCA).

Our Principal Concerns:

1. Club Growth and Local Demand: WSJCC has grown substantially, now boasting 23 teams with a membership of 255 junior players. Our Blasters program alone attracts over 50 young participants each season. With an additional 16,600 new homes planned for the Broadmeadow area, we anticipate a significant increase in local families seeking to engage in cricket, placing further demand on our club which is already the second largest junior cricket club in Newcastle.

2. Misrepresentation of Ground Usage: Despite claims from the City of Newcastle (CN) regarding underutilisation of grounds in the Strategic Sporting Plan, our lived experience is very different. For example, this year, our 19 Saturday morning teams require 10 home grounds every weekend. With nine home grounds in the Lambton and New Lambton area, some of which are shared home grounds with other clubs, these grounds are fully utilised. This scarcity is compounded during weekdays with our grounds heavily booked by other sports, reducing availability for our training sessions and compromising safety and player experience.

3. Potential Loss of Cricket Facilities: The removal of Wallarah and Blackley is part of a broader issue, with historic decommissioning of several other cricket facilities in the area at District Park Broadmeadow, Alder Park and Kentish No2. If CN’s 2020 Strategic Sports Plan is fully implemented, further critical cricket infrastructure may also be at risk (see reference to the removal of cricket infrastructure at Lewis Oval, Regent, and Johnston Parks in section 6.4 of the CN Strategic Sports Plan 

4. Proposed Compensations: CNSW has been negotiating with CN to offset these losses. An agreement has been reached to install a new synthetic wicket at Hudson Park Kotara and reinstate a turf wicket at Dangar Park Mayfield. However, these measures do not fully address our concerns, as they still result in a net loss of cricket facilities within our local area and don’t address the exacerbation of increased demand from other displaced codes.

5. Lack of Consultation: At no point has WSJCC been directly approached by CN or Newcastle Basketball for discussions on the redevelopment’s impacts on our club. We first became aware of the redevelopment the day before it was officially announced as going ahead in the Newcastle Herald.

Moving Forward:

Our club will always continue to respect the diverse views taken by all other cricketing groups within the Newcastle area and their right to hold their own positions. Importantly, WSJCC will continue to have our own voice on matters which we believe strike at the heart of the future of our club and the ability of local children to participate in cricket. Although some stakeholders view the redevelopment as a foregone conclusion, our committee believes it is essential not to remain passive. We will be making a formal submission on behalf of the club during the EIS exhibition phase to outline our concerns. Your individual voices are equally important, and we encourage you to express your views as concerned parents and residents. Please sign the attached petition, contact local councillors, and consider making your own submission during the EIS public exhibition period.

Together, we can strive to preserve cricket’s vital legacy in our community and foster a robust future for the sport, amid our rapidly expanding population.

SIGN THE OFFICIAL PETITON HERE

Yours in cricket,

WSJCC Committee