Latest designs revealed for transformation of Perth’s WACA Ground

The latest vision has been unveiled for the WACA Ground Improvement Project, aiming to transform the historic East Perth venue into a boutique community and sporting venue, capable of hosting 10,000 people as well as year-round community use.

Released yesterday, the designs mark a significant milestone for the Project, following the $30 million funding commitments from both the Australian and Western Australian governments, $11 million from WACA plus a $4 million contribution from Cricket Australia.

In a statement, the Western Australian Government advised “the final design illustrates how the original home of cricket in WA will become a sustainable boutique community and sporting venue (bringing) vibrancy to the East Perth precinct while honouring the rich history of the Ground.

The statement continued “in a major boost to the East Perth area, the facility will support community use year-round, adding much-needed amenity for the growing CBD population (and will) also facilitate a new state-of-the-art inner city swimming pool.

“The CBD aquatic centre proposal has been discussed for decades, and will bring Perth into line with other major cities across Australia by ensuring residents can enjoy a central swimming pool.”

The newly released concepts come after it was confirmed last August that the venue would be reshaped as a ‘boutique venue’ following Perth’s Optus Stadium having become Western Australia’s premier international cricket venue.

With the concept halving the ground’s current capacity of around 20,000, the development will be part of revitalising the surrounding suburb of East Perth while also reflecting and incorporating the history of the Ground, which first opened in the early 1890s.

The reconfiguration will see the lengthening of the WACA’s oval playing surface to accommodate AFL and the removal of the Inverarity and Prindiville stands will be removed to make way for one central pavilion on the northern end of the Ground, which will incorporate a number of key community amenities to be utilised by the public all year-round.

These designs include a seven-day operating café, revitalised museum, community health club, sports medicine and rehabilitation centre, all-abilities playground and a sensory room for the public.

The project will also deliver enhanced high-performance facilities for cricket and other sports, including a 10-lane indoor cricket and multi-sport centre, high-performance gym for the state cricket programs, as well as home and match-day changing rooms and recovery facilities.

Commenting on the current concept, WACA Chairman, Terry Waldon stated “we’re excited to share the schematic design of the WACA Ground Improvement Project that showcase the much-needed revitalisation of the iconic home of cricket in WA into a year-round community destination for all to enjoy.

“The transformation of this world-famous ground will have significant benefits for our great game and the needs of the wider community now and into the future, and will play a key role in activating the East Perth precinct.

“The design presents exciting opportunities for both the community and delivery of our high-performance program, and we look forward to sharing these in more detail once the next stage of the project is complete.”

Explaining the project’s significance, Western Australia’s Minister for Planning, Rita Saffioti noted “the project will add amenity and vibrancy to East Perth and the wider Perth CBD. The WACA Ground itself will become a fantastic community facility, complete with a long-desired aquatic centre and new recreational space for the growing population.”

Advising the Association will begin formal talks with the WA Football Commission in the coming fortnight, concerning the Ground’s use as an AFL venue, WACA Chief Executive, Christina Matthews told the West Australian newspaper “what we’ve got to remember with football though is we have to make sure our cricket isn’t compromised, so the start of the season and the end of the season can’t be compromised by football.

“But we think there’s a great opportunity for the footy commission to take advantage of this facility for commercial reasons and the benefit of WAFL (West Australian Football League) supporters around the state.”

Matthews also maintained that the WACA’s status as an international cricket venue will not end with the redevelopment, adding “we intend in the future to host Test matches, but against developing nations so the capacity of 15,000 is about right for what we want to do.”

However, while the latest designs are described as “final”, questions surround the City of Perth’s commitment to the aquatic centre component of the project with Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas this year questioning the Council’s previous pledge to back the project.

In addition, Australasian Leisure Management Publisher, Nigel Benton sees that a purely outdoor aquatic facility would be unlikely to be viable financially, and would require a significant ongoing financial commitment to operate.

Benton stated “to meet the project’s commitment to ‘year-round’ community use, contemporary best practice aquatic facility practice would demand an indoor aquatic element as well as fitness facilities.

“A purely outdoor pool as shown in the latest concept designs would be a largely seasonal facility.”

The WACA said it remains in discussions with the City of Perth and state and federal governments around the integration of an aquatic facility which includes a six-lane 50-metre pool, learn to swim pool and waterslide that wraps around one of the venue's light towers.

It is intended that the early works will commence prior to the beginning of the 2021/22 cricket season, with anticipated completion scheduled for early 2024.

Images show the current concepts for the redevelopment of the WACA. Credit: Western Australia Cricket Association