WACA plan rethink

The Western Australian Cricket Association’s master plan for a redevelopment of its grounds – which would allow buildings as tall as the existing light towers in some areas – has been directed back to the drawing board by the City of Perth, due to a lack of detail.

The City of Perth, which was invited to comment on the plan by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, said the WACA’s proposal did not provide enough detail around built form and accessibility, although it was difficult to assess the plan due to uncertainty over EPRA’s own Riverside master plan.

In its response, the city said there was a risk that the two towers proposed for the north-east corner of the site would overshadow Trinity College, and would be better placed in the south-east and south-west corners.

It also said a building height of 15 storeys was too high for the area adjacent to the Queens Gardens car park, and that it was inappropriate to match building heights with the light towers.

Having a gradation of building heights across the site and up the slope to Waterloo Crescent would better match the contour of land and be less bulky in form, according to the City of Perth.

A spokesperson for EPRA, which is the planning authority for the project, said key stakeholders, including landholders around the WACA ground, were being consulted as part of the master plan.