Ethos Urban provided integrated planning, economic, social strategy and engagement services to support the delivery of the NSW Cricket Centre of Excellence —now known as Cricket Central—at Sydney Olympic Park.
Cricket Central is a state-of-the art, dedicated, year-round cricket, training and administration facility that services both regional and metropolitan cricketers, as well as providing facilities for aspiring junior cricketers to support sport, social, health and educational programs. The centre is located at Wilson Park within Sydney Olympic Park on the foreshore of the Parramatta River at Silverwater.
Ethos Urban provided initial due diligence planning advice, followed by statutory planning and urban development services to support and obtain planning approval for the State Significant Development Application (SSDA), including providing services for planning, crime prevention (CPTED), visual impact assessment (VIA), communications and engagement, social strategy, economics and event management strategy.
The SSDA process required careful consideration of a number of environmental issues. The site is located adjacent to artificial wetlands associated with former site remediation which provides habitat for a population of Green and Golden Bell Frogs, which is a State and Commonwealth listed threatened species. The assessment required careful consideration of the impacts of the proposed facility on the frog population, its core habitat and potential foraging areas. The potential impacts included noise impacts and impact associated with night lighting of the cricket ground.
Other key issues included visual impact of the development when viewed from residences to the north across the Parramatta River and the relocation of junior sporting clubs that had previously utilised the former Wilson Park facilities.
Ethos Urban has subsequently prepared a number of modifications to the consent to facilitate night lighting for the venue and expand the function facilities.
Cricket Central demonstrates how expert planning advice, integrated impact assessments and community engagement can deliver lasting benefits for both elite sport and local communities. Ethos Urban’s ongoing involvement in planning modifications reflects its commitment to adaptive, evidence-based solutions that respond to the evolving needs of high-performance and grassroots sport across New South Wales.
