The City of Playford and Andrews Farm Cricket Club have been recognised for their commitment to community sport, receiving the 2025/26 Cricket Facility Project of the Year, in recognition of the outstanding redevelopment of Kalara Reserve.
Presented by the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) to the City of Playford Mayor, Glenn Docherty, the award recognises outstanding infrastructure projects that create inclusive, welcoming and sustainable environments while supporting participation growth and strengthening community outcomes.
The recognition celebrates the transformation of Kalara Reserve into a modern shared-use sporting hub, now home to both the Andrews Farm Cricket Club and the Andrews Farm Soccer & Community Club, while also delivering significant benefits to the broader Playford community.
The $6 million redevelopment delivered a purpose-built clubhouse and change room facility, bringing together previously separate amenities into a central location designed to support participation, accessibility and long term growth.
Key features of the redevelopment include four change rooms, a dedicated umpires’ room, a synthetic cricket pitch, three new practice nets, upgraded kitchen and event facilities, flexible meeting spaces, alfresco spectator areas, a new car park and solar panels to improve sustainability.
The project aligns strongly with objectives from the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund, which supports facility developments that grow participation, create inclusive environments and strengthen community cricket across Australia. The redevelopment received a $40,000 contribution through the fund, delivered in partnership with Cricket Australia and SACA.
SACA Community Facilities Lead, Andrew Edwards, said the project demonstrates the lasting impact strategic facility investment can have on local communities.
“The facility at Kalara Reserve demonstrates how shared investment can support the growth and sustainability for cricket’s future, the new practice cricket nets especially are getting a large amount of club and community use. The ACIF exists to invest into community sport which is essential to growing communities and providing opportunities for all to play.”
The facility has already become an important hub for cricket in the Northern Suburbs. Andrews Farm Cricket Club hosted the Para District Cricket Association Junior Season Launch earlier this year welcoming approximately 60 coaches and coordinators, while also hosting Under 12 and Under 14 matches as part of the SACA Metropolitan Representative Carnivals.
City of Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty, said the award recognised the collective effort that brought the redevelopment to life.
"Receiving SACA's Community Facility Project of the Year award is fantastic recognition of what can be achieved when all tiers of government work together with our national and state sporting bodies to invest in community sport."
"Kalara Reserve has been transformed into a modern, inclusive sporting hub that will unlock greater participation opportunities and bring our community together for generations to come. We're incredibly proud of this achievement and thank everyone who played a role in bringing this vision to life," said Mayor Docherty.
The redevelopment was jointly funded through contributions by the City of Playford, the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the South Australian Government’s Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund (SACA and Cricket Australia).
Congratulations to the City of Playford, Andrews Farm Cricket Club and all project partners on this outstanding achievement.