WACA receives $5.2m grant for new inclusive facilities

The Western Australian Cricket Association has received a $5.2 million Lotterywest grant from the state government, as part of the WACA ground improvement project.

Announced on Tuesday, funds from the grant will be put towards a raft of inclusive facilities, including an all-abilities playground.

Located at the north-western end of WACA ground, the goanna-shaped structure will have a winding ramped path from its tail into its head, which will be wheelchair accessible.

Additionally, there will be a series of tunnels within the goanna's body, which will have a range of sensory panels, which will be able to cater to the interaction needs of all children.

A fit out of calming and sensory rooms, spacious inclusive-friendly changing facilities, Indigenous public art and braille signage for vision-impaired spectators around the ground will also be included in this phase of the project. 

The Western Australian Cricket Association provides a number of tailored programs for people living with either an intellectual or physical disibility from junior to senior level, including the Integrated Cricket League and the Inclusion Academy - which is comprised of players from WA's blind, deaf or hard of hearing and intellectual disability teams. 

The iconic venue, located on Hay Street in East Perth, now hosts a series of national-level and grassroots matches each summer, after international Test cricket and Big Bash League matches involving the Perth Scorchers were moved to the larger Optus Stadium in 2018. 

West Australian Football League club East Fremantle was also based at the WACA ground between 2022-23 due to a major re-development project at East Fremantle Oval. 

The WACA Improvement Project is part of a $1.7 billion Perth City deal - jointly funded by both federal and state governments, City of Perth, WACA and Cricket Autralia.