Qld Cricket CEO expresses support behind play continuing to Coorparoo’s Bottomley Park
After a dispute with a rugby union club turned sour, time has been called on a Brisbane cricket club’s rich 40-year history at their home base. But the sport’s governing body has made a surprise move that may ensure play continues at the ground.
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QUEENSLAND Cricket has called for play on at a Brisbane venue despite time controversially being called on a club’s four decades of history on their home pitch.
Easts Rugby Union, the leaseholders of Coorparoo’s Bottomley Park, have given the Coorparoo Cricket Club until July 31 to vacate the space, which they have called home for more than 40 years.
Coorparoo were given their marching orders after a dispute following irrigation works at the grounds, which both Easts and the Brisbane City Council were not approved.
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It sparked a rally from the cricket club, with more than 1000 members and hundreds of juniors, on Sunday after starting a petition which now has almost 2000 signatures.
But in a letter to Easts president Simon Box, Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said the sport had such a long and rich history at the venue that he would like to see continue.
Last week, Box said Easts Rugby were in discussions with several junior clubs to play at the venue, something Mr Svenson said he approved of.
Mr Svenson also said QC was able to assist in negotiations between Easts and cricket clubs in the hope something would be sorted soon.
He also said it was important maintenance on the grounds would continue and a project to upgrade cricket facilities at Bottomley Park should be completed soon.
“Part of the success of cricket at Bottomley Park are the two turf wicket blocks. This infrastructure is vital to various cricket competitions in the region and must be maintained to preserve those competitions,” Mr Svenson wrote in the letter.
“Curatorial expertise housed within QC is able to assist in advising on any remediation
work required on the turf pitches to enable them to be sufficiently dormant so the ovals can be used during the rugby season.
“Also crucial to supporting cricket in the immediate region are the training nets which are in the process of being upgraded; these nets provide vital training capacity for junior cricketers in the area.
“Having contributed $18,000 to this project, QC would like to see this project complete and the nets in use as soon as possible.”
The rally to save Coorparoo Cricket on Sunday attracted more than 50 people, including Councillor for Morningside Kara Cook.
Coorparoo Cricket president Marc Fidler was still adamant the club had approval for the irrigation works, which created the controversy.
“We had approvals for both projects and somehow we’re the bad guys,” he said.
“All works over the past 25 years have been done by the club, not council, and everything we do is for the benefit of the junior clubs we support and the wider community.
“We will continue to fight and continue to ask questions to the right people and get the message out because something’s not right about this and it isn’t our fault.”