The strategy process was launched in March this year with a community workshop to discuss the current challenges and needs of the Eurobodalla cricket community.

A key outcome was the identification that each cricket club is the hub of its community, and each club should be aligned to shire precincts.

This aligns with the Eurobodalla Shile Council Recreation and Open Space Strategy serving to develop relationships between clubs, their catchment schools and local facility needs.

The strategy has four clear aims:

- Grow school programs and align them to club cricket.

- Develop a pathway to provide participation opportunities for players of all levels, involving the Woolworths Cricket Blast.

- Provide support to volunteers, enabling them to drive a positive environment for members and participants.

- Build and maintain suitable amenities to meet the current and future needs of the sport.

Cricket NSW's area manager for Southern NSW and ACT, Martin Gleeson, recognised the contribution of the council in the development of the strategy.

"Eurobodalla Shire Council has been very proactive and integral in this project," he said. "Their contribution has been crucial in bringing the final Strategy together.

"One of the challenges for cricket in Eurobodalla is that there is no local association, and the three resident clubs play in different competitions or grades.

"This makes the collaboration between the council, Cricket NSW and clubs all the more meaningful, with all parties committed to support each other in achieving shared outcomes."

The council's recreation development coordinator, Mathew Neason, welcomed the opportunity to work with key stakeholders through this process.

"The collaboration and cooperation throughout this process has been really positive," he said.

"The end result is a strategy that will support the growth and development of cricket throughout the Eurobodalla for years to come.

"Cricket NSW is already doing great work in our local schools, as are our clubs in their respective communities. This plan ensures that those efforts are fully aligned, and that all parties are pushing in the same direction."

Cricket NSW's manager for the South Coast, Greg Richards-Riches, sees a great opportunity for cricket in the Shire.

"Fifteen key focus areas across the four key pillars of clubs, schools, off-field and facilities make (up the plan)," he said.

"As part of the strategy, we will work with local schools to run all School Cups in the region (during) Term 3 or Term 4, and connect them with the clubs so that they can serve as a recruitment tool as well as a participation opportunity in their own right."

Richards-Riches explained that the plan would entail establishing a Woolworths Cricket Blast centre in Moruya and at the Southern Eurobodalla Cricket Club, building a sustainable junior program for the Tuross Head club and re-establishing an under 16 team in the Shoalhaven District Cricket Association.

"Female cricket is also on the radar with growth targeted for the Batemans Bay social competition and establishing extra female participation opportunities in secondary schools and at Southern Eurobodalla and Tuross Head," he said.

"Access to more training programs and resources for club volunteers will also be offered over the next three years, as well as the council identifying key facility upgrades and completing master plans at Hanging Rock, Bill Smyth and Mackay Park reserves."