Originally estimated to be a $650,000 venture by Cricket NSW, the Western Advocate can reveal that figure could well be around the $2 million mark for the Bathurst facility alone.

Cricket NSW is believed to be highly impressed with the potential Bathurst offers for the initiative, which aims to develop a series of hubs to tap into bush talent as a means of discovering the stars of the future.

And such is the hype around the venture’s potential, Charles Sturt University’s School of Human Movement Studies also wants to get in on the act.

It believes there are real synergies between its research capabilities and what an academy of excellence has to offer both parties.

Armed with a barrage of information touting Bathurst as a key nursery for the sport in the Central West, Mayor Gary Rush travelled to Sydney on November 9 to meet with the big guns of Australian cricket administration.

The visit included high level talks before the T20 match between the Aussies and South Africa at ANZ Stadium with Cricket NSW chief executive officer Andrew Jones, NSW development officer Cameron French and Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland, who was also there to support the NSW plan.

“We had a lengthy meeting in the Olympians Room at Homebush, which went very well,” Cr Rush said.

“We were shown the design for the 2500 square metre facility being talked about for the regional centres, but the development has gone a lot further than first envisaged and the estimated construction cost of each building is now about $2 million.

“Apart from indoor cricket nets, it would include multi-purpose courts for a range of sports like basketball, netball and soccer ... really, anything that can be played indoors. “

Cr Rush said the gathering was very impressed with what Bathurst had to offer.

“I really believe we are right up the front of the queue to make this become a reality, judging by discussions in Sydney,” he said.

“Originally it was about five or six centres of excellence being bandied about, but such is the potential of this roll out of academies, it could well be ramped up to include even more.

“To start, only a few academies would be involved because of finances, but I am firmly of the belief that Bathurst could be one of these.”

Cr Rush said Cricket NSW was being tight-lipped about its plans, which have not been finalised, but noted that, apart from Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Newcastle could also be in the mix for the initial roll out.

“It’s all subject to funding though through the state government Coalition if it wins the March 2015 election and is able to proceed with its plans to lease the poles and wires,” he said.

“If that happens, then sport is in for some really decent funding and the cricket centres of excellence is one of these initiatives.

“Council is writing a letter of support for Anthony Brooks from Cricket NSW, who heads up its government relations side of things, so he can submit it as part of the push for funding.”