The $115 million project to revitalise the East Perth cricket grounds is underway with an all-abilities playground added to the design plan.
The $115 million project to revitalise the East Perth cricket grounds is underway with an all-abilities playground added to the design plan.
The Western Australian Cricket Association Ground Improvement Project has hit a milestone as the demolition of the Prindiville Stand recently finished after 15 weeks.
Tonnes of construction material including steel staircases, concrete seating, walls, wiring, and pipework have been removed from the 1,500 square metre site.
The Prindiville Stand site, which opened in 1984, will be replaced with an inclusive all-abilities playground and cafe on the northern end of the ground.
Both the Prindiville and Inverarity stands have now been demolished to make way for a new central pavillion with community amenities.
WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews said the all-abilities playground would include sensory rooms for autistic children and adults, and specialised changing places for people with disabilities.
“Features like the all-abilities playground, cafe and pavilion will help drive year-round use and create a WACA Ground that’s accessible to all," she said.
“Too often, sporting facilities are designed with a focus purely on high performance rather than community and the demolition of the Prindiville Stand is a major step towards this ground becoming a place every member of our community, no matter their ability and age, can enjoy and create long-lasting memories."
The proposed pavillion including community amenities. Image: WA Cricket
Other proposed features of the WACA Ground Improvement Project include a museum, a childcare centre, a ten-lane indoor cricket facility, a function centre for 400 people, and an auditorium with a capacity of 130 people which Ms Matthews said could be used for film festivals.
The project started in August 2021 with the oval expanding to accommodate AFL and the East Fremantle Sharks making WACA Ground their home for the next two WAFL seasons.
Ms Matthews said the facility could not be "singularly focused" on one sport in this modern day.
"This is a very big block of land in a very important part of the city and it's important for us to have as many people through it as possible," she said.
Planning minister Rita Saffioti said the investment to improve the WACA grounds was part of a bigger plan to have more people live in the city and keep the capital vibrant.
"That's why part of this development includes things like cafes, new playgrounds and of course, the aquatic facility," she said.
Funding agreement for the 50-metre, six lane aquatic facility between the City of Perth and the state government has hit a snag recently but the city council has extended its deadline over its $25 million contribution towards development of the swimming pool.
Render of the WACA grounds as part of the improvement project. Image: WA Cricket
The WACA Improvement Project is part of the $1.7 billion Perth City Deal, which is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, City of Perth, WA Cricket and Cricket Australia.
The federal government has contributed $30 million towards the WACA Ground project in 2019, with federal member for Perth Patrick Gorman saying today that the new Australian government would continue to back the development.
“The bulldozers have done their job, now it’s time for the builders to get going,” he said.
"It is good to see that now, finally, all those pieces that people have been looking forward to for so long. Seeing the playground starting to be put together, seeing the new build starting to come in."
The WACA Ground Improvement Project is expected to be completed in 2024.
