Published on 29 October 2021
Council will now maintain the Merton Cricket Ground to support the reformation of Merton Cricket Club after four years in hiatus.
Mayor Cr Mark Holcombe said Council were pleased to see recreation opportunities revived for Merton.
“The investment we make in community sports, including on the maintenance of reserves like this one, is small compared to the enormous benefits the contribution makes to the community,” said Cr Holcombe.
“It’s not easy to resurrect a sporting club after four years of dormancy. The Merton Cricket Club have themselves done a lot of work and taken action to create opportunities for health and wellbeing in Merton and we’re happy to support them as best we can.”
Chair of the Merton Recreation Reserves Committee Jim Sayers said he was grateful to Council for the assistance.
“I am very appreciative of the Council’s prompt action in supporting community activity in Merton. In this case by mowing the ‘MCG’,” said Mr Sayers.
“As Chairman of the Merton Recreation Reserves Committee I have a small role to play in the overall activities of the wider Merton community. However, the Committee and I have always attempted to promote the use of the Reserves as part of our charter to manage the Crown lands.”
The maintenance of Merton Cricket Ground is part of Council’s Township Reserves Policy which recognises that open space and recreational facilities play an essential role in the health and wellbeing of the community and outlines how Council manages requests for maintenance equitably across the Shire.