Cricket Australia is proud to announce the winners of the 2025–26 Community Facility Project of the Year Awards, recognising outstanding infrastructure developments that are strengthening participation, improving accessibility and delivering lasting benefits to local cricket communities across the country.
Major Category Winner ($1M+)
City of Rockingham – Stan Twight Reserve (WA)
The City of Rockingham has been recognised as the Major Category winner for the transformation of Stan Twight Reserve, a key sporting hub that has undergone a significant redevelopment to meet the needs of modern community cricket.
Prior to the upgrade, the venue’s pavilion and amenities were outdated and no longer fit‑for‑purpose, lacking gender‑inclusive changerooms, modern operational spaces and adequate facilities for the wide range of user groups.
Completed in 2025, the redevelopment has delivered a modern, cohesive pavilion featuring two highly functional zones:
- A western pavilion providing social spaces, administration areas, storage and a kiosk for tenant clubs
- An eastern pavilion offering unisex changerooms, umpire facilities, public amenities, a first aid room and IT/comms infrastructure
The project also included critical upgrades to surrounding infrastructure, such as enhanced car parking and floodlighting, significantly improving training flexibility and enabling greater use of the facility during evenings.
These upgrades sit alongside an already impressive cricket footprint, including 18 practice wickets (12 turf and 6 synthetic), multiple turf centre blocks and a synthetic match wicket, supporting both community participation and major events such as WA Cricket’s Country Week carnival.
Importantly, the redevelopment aligns with national priorities by enhancing gender equity, supporting increased women’s and girls’ participation, and reflecting strong collaboration between local government, state stakeholders and community clubs.
Minor Category Winner (< $1M)
Yelarbon Cricket Club – Yelarbon State School (QLD)
The Yelarbon Cricket Club has been named the Minor Category winner for its community‑driven project at Yelarbon State School, demonstrating the powerful impact of targeted, grassroots infrastructure investment.
Established in 2019, the club has quickly built strong community connections, including the introduction of a women’s team in 2020. The latest project focused on the construction of a two‑lane practice net facility, complementing the existing synthetic wicket and significantly enhancing training opportunities for players.
Delivered in partnership with the local school and supported by local contractors, the project highlights the importance of community collaboration, with contributions spanning earthworks, construction and equipment supply.
The benefits of the facility extend well beyond the club itself. Teams across the Goondiwindi District Cricket competition—many travelling significant distances of 50 to 180 kilometres—now use the nets for both training and pre‑game preparation.
This development has:
- Improved access to safe, compliant training facilities
- Reduced travel burdens for players and teams
- Strengthened links between the school, club and wider community
- Boosted participation, morale and social connection across the region
Supporting Cricket Through Infrastructure
Both projects were supported through the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund, reflecting Cricket Australia’s ongoing commitment to investing in facilities that enable participation growth, enhance community connection and ensure cricket remains accessible for all.
Cricket Australia congratulates the City of Rockingham and Yelarbon Cricket Club on their outstanding achievements and recognises all nominated projects for their vital role in building stronger, more inclusive cricket communities through high‑quality infrastructure.