Wade Park's $3.4 million centre of excellence nears completion

But now, in 2020, he has 3.4 million reasons to back up that sentiment.

The city's new multi-million dollar centre of excellence is just weeks away from completion, giving Orange the sort of facilities most other associations across regional NSW can only dream of.

The $3.4 million building, located where the old greyhound dog box was on the southern side of the grandstand, will boast four training nets, two change rooms, bar and canteen facilities - which includes two floor-to-ceiling cool rooms, and a giant exhaust fan which spans the entirety of the roof cavity in the kitchen - a meeting room and an administration office for Cricket NSW officials.

Orange City Councillors and staff toured the facility on Thursday, and say the centre will be open come November.

Which will be a massive boon for the city's next generation of cricketers.

Mr Frecklington, the long-running Orange District Cricket Association president says the new facility will ensure the region's cricketers are able to hone their skills 12 months of the year, which is impossible throughout winter without an indoor practice venue, he added.

"I think it's going to be massive for Orange given our climate," Mr Frecklington said.

"It's going to enable our players and clubs to train all year round, and training before a season can now start that little bit earlier too.

"It'll be massive for us. And, who knows, maybe it'll help produce our next Test cricketer, too."

Girls cricket, a real growth area for the game in regional NSW as well as country-wide, will also benefit from the new facility, with female change rooms included in the design.

"It's a real space to watch, girls cricket, and certainly an area we hope will continue to grow here as well," he added.

On top of the new $3.4 million facility, Wade Park already boasts improved sight-screens, and new turf nets at the northern end of the ground.

Mr Frecklington said, although unlikely this summer given cricket is just around the corner and schedules are locked in, he's hopeful the elevated facilities now on offer at Wade Park ensure the venue is at the forefront of Cricket NSW's mind when looking to take top level cricket - think BBL, WBBL and Sheffield Shield - to regional parts of the state.

Orange City Council's Sport and Recreation Committee chair, Cr Jason Hamling said conversations with Cricket NSW pre-COVID indicated an interest in bringing a Sheffield Shield clash to Wade Park.

"We've got an agreement with NSW Cricket, and certainly based on conversations we've had with them before COVID-19 they're keen to bring a shield game out here, and we'd love something like women's Big Bash. Can you imagine having a side out here that included Phoebe Litchfield, it'd be great," he said.

"And for our local players, senior and junior, it means training can continue during winter. Being in Orange we have to look at our climate and we can't shut up shop for six months."

Stage one of the project has been funded $1.4 million in grants, with $1 million from the NSW Government Club Grants Scheme, $200K from Cricket Australia and $200K from Cricket NSW.

Orange City Council has contributed $1.6 million while another $449,000 has come from developer contributions.

Stage two of the project will include additional seating at Wade Park.