FAQs - Cricket Practice Pitches Upgrade

Council is not proposing to undertake an upgrade of the existing cricket practice pitches (Pitches) but rather is considering a request made by the Goodwood Cricket Club (Club) to do so.

The Club is proposing to remove the existing Pitches located on the southern side of the Oval and construct new Pitches on the northern side of the hockey pitch, just south of what would be the new footprint of the extended tennis courts.

The Club currently uses 10 Pitches (6 turf and 4 concrete). The overall footprint of the existing Pitches is approximately 952m² (including unformed run-up areas). 

The Club is requesting the provision of 15 new Pitches (10 turf and 5 concrete). Each of the Pitches would be approximately 25 metres in length and approximately 3.6 metres in width, with an overall footprint of 1,350m². The area in which the existing Pitches are located on the southern side of the Oval would be returned to community open space. 

The 10 new turf Pitches would have retractable netting, which would be removed in the cricket off-season, returning an area of 900m² of open space for community use. The netting around the 5 concrete Pitches would be permanent.

It is important for accessibility that Council include a pathway between the proposed new boundary of the tennis courts and the boundary of the new Pitches. The walkway is required to allow access to the Oval and will be approximately 2.0 metres in width. 

On 20 October 2025, the Club made a presentation at an Elected Member Briefing regarding its request. The Club is seeking the new Pitches to address safety concerns regarding its players and the public when training is currently held on the existing Pitches, given that the current dimensions of these Pitches do not meet safety standards.  

The Club has informed Council that, at a high-level, the cost estimate of the new Pitches is $700,000, and has requested a contribution from Council in the amount of $200,000. The Club has advised that it will seek a grant to assist it in the delivery of the works.

Council has not verified or confirmed the cost estimate as there is currently no design or actual scope of works to be costed. Council has not allocated any funding for the project.

No. Council has not formally considered or agreed to the Club’s request. However, Council is supportive of the proposal and has agreed to include the new Pitches as part of its community consultation process to gauge the views of the community prior to making any final determinations.

All figures quoted here are approximate but have been based on measurements undertaken onsite, which will be verified via a survey should Council decide to proceed with the new Pitches.

The hockey pitch is 98 metres in length from existing tennis courts fence to the Fairfax Avenue boundary fence. It is 59 metres in width from the edge of the buildings on the western side to the Argyle Avenue boundary fence. That is a total area of 5,789 m².

The new Pitches as requested by the Club are 25 metres in length and 3.6 metres in width each. As such, the 15 new Pitches would be a total area of 1,350m².

The proposed 9 metres extension to the south of the tennis courts footprint across the whole of the hockey pitch would be a total area of 531m².

The new 2-metre-wide pathway between the new tennis courts and new Pitches across the whole of the hockey pitch would cover a total area of 118m².

Should Council proceed with the new tennis courts, Pitches, and walkway there would still be a total area of 3,790m² in open space remaining. This area could be used for junior sports, passive recreation, open space community use, etc. No additional trees will be planted in this area to ensure the space is maximised for community use.