Councillor John Horton, Hornets Secretary Kelvin Brown, Coota MP Steph Cooke and Hornets players Beau and Shane Abnett.
The Harden Hornets Cricket Club has written to Hilltops Council due to the current lack of water and the surface condition of the outfield at Tim Doolan Oval in Harden.
Tim Doolan Oval is the home ground of the Hornets who currently play in the Yass District Cricket Association C Grade competition and is widely regarded as one of the best grounds in the district.
Hornets Secretary Kelvin Brown said, “We have been advised there is no water allocation to be used on the oval. Even if a water allocation was shifted to it, it is too late for this year as any grass has virtually died.”
Tim Doolan was in such superb condition just a number of seasons ago, that it was attracting teams form Bowral and O’Farrell Cup matches to the town.
Kelvin said, “The outfield grass has basically died, is clumpy through lack of growth over a couple of years and in places the soil has started to crack. The ground is in similar condition to that of an outback village.”
Council staff have been left helpless as a lack of water availability now and into the future looks to be the case.
The User groups at Tim Doolan include both the Senior Cricket, Junior Cricket and Junior Rugby League with all 3 seeking a remedy to the current situation.
They are asking Council to put a plan in place in Autumn for the ground to be top dressed and re-seeded and a sustainable water source be allocated to keep it in good condition.
Kelvin said, “We have suggested that a bore be installed which could easily connect to existing irrigation. The bore could jointly be used for other adjacent parks and ovals like Newson Park, McLean Oval , swimming pool and the caravan park lawns.”
The Hornets recently met with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and discussed the issue and sought advise around funding.
