What a great sporting achievement

CASEY Fields at Cranbourne is believed to have only two peers for sports facilities of its type in Australia.
Casey manager of building services Ron Walker said Casey Fields matched Albert Park at Melbourne, and Quad Park at Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The council plans to spend at least $30 million on the Cranbourne site to build a facility that is expected to become a major drawcard for sport and other activities.
This, in turn, will generate millions of dollars a year for the Cranbourne economy.
The council has already attracted toplevel sporting bodies to Cranbourne by making new homes for the South Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian Football League’s Scorpions Football Club.
The Scorpions will be using their new ground for next season.
The State Government has provided $500,000 toward a councilbuilt worldstandard criterium track that will host highlevel bike racing and the emerging humanpowered vehicle (HPV) racing.
Added to this, I foresee good reasons emerging for the State Government to put even more money into Casey Fields.
Initially, the fields will have 12 tennis courts and six netball courts.
Small water storages could provide lowlevel flatwater activity such as canoeing and paddle boats.
Casey chief executive Mike Tyler said the grounds and courts would be fully utilised from day one.
I was given a sneak preview of the fields last week and this provided me with a rather different outlook to plans I had seen and council sales talk about the project.
This is more than a localised Cranbourne facility.
My view is that Casey Fields will within a decade become a household word for sport in Melbourne.
The South Melbourne Cricket Club has a rich heritage and has provided a long list of Australian Test cricketers and Australian Test team captains.
The club’s presence at the fields will bring toplevel sports people to the area and this must enthuse young wouldbe champions.
That’s a good starter.
I see in the future rich playing fields with modern pavilions and dressing sheds, along with impressive grandstands around the main playing fields.
Only good things for the area can come from this project.