The new aquatic and health facility is set to overlook the $183 million redevelopment of the WACA Ground.
BlueFit has been named the operator of the new aquatic and health facility overlooking the WACA Ground in East Perth, as a part of the $182.5 million redevelopment.
The community facility, named The Pavilion, is a joint initiative between the state and federal government, the City of Perth, WA Cricket, and Cricket Australia.
Sports and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti gave an estimated price tag which will be fronted by the state government in today's announcement at the site.
"The estimated subsidy over four years currently is between $500,000 to $600,000," Ms Saffioti said.
"That'll be the net between projected income and projected expenditure."
City of Perth Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds announced the city will be contributing $25 million towards the project, out of its $300 million budget.
The facilities will include health clubs and aquatic centres, and offer the experience of watching cricket live from a 50-metre pool.
It is set to feature a gym, group fitness studios, wellness spaces, a learn-to-swim pool, water slides, an aquatic play area, a playground, and a public café.
The redevelopment comes under the state government’s PlayOn WA initiative, aiming to deliver 2,030 community sport and recreation infrastructure items by 2030.
"When you build these facilities, they become draw cards for both visitation and international teams, and I also envisage that this is a home of visiting teams who may want to, in particular, start their tours here [and] do a lot of training here," Ms Saffioti said.
When asked about parking, she mentioned Gloucester Park as an opportunity and connecting bus routes.
"There's still be some public parking, there's car parks opposite, there's street parking, and there's also discussions with Gloucester Park," Ms Saffioti said.
"Gloucester Park has a lot of underutilised land that's utilised a few days or a few periods during the week.
John Carey and Rita Saffioti visited The Pavilion, which is under construction. Photos: WA government
"Negotiations are underway to how we can support people visiting this site with parking."
BlueFit chief operations officer Brett McEwin said the national leisure management group is aiming to open this summer.
"When this facility is operational, you can expect hundreds and hundreds of families swimming in the indoor known to swimming pool here," he said.
"There'll be a number of local employment opportunities that we're providing for local schools, school-based traineeships and education partnerships, and a number of activations here that will really spark and re-energise such an iconic ground."
Photo: WA government
ADCO Constructions is part way through the redevelopment of the cricket ground, which is due for completion in November.
The date has been rescheduled three times since October 2024, and the cost of the WACA Ground Improvement Project has risen by more than $10 million.
Perth MLA John Carey said in a statement the BlueFit facility was responding to East Perth’s growing population.
"It's terrific to see another milestone reached for this exciting new facility, which is crucial to ensuring the growing number of people who are moving into the East Perth area have access to top health and wellbeing amenities,” he said.
"Along with the neighbouring new primary school, The Pavilion and broader WACA Ground improvement will be transformative for the east end of our city and local residents.”
The $135 million East Perth Primary School development, flagged for a car park next to Queen’s Gardens and the WACA Ground, has been a subject of controversy.
In May, the state’s major project assessment body donned the school insufficient in addressing the inner-city suburb’s rising population.
The school, planned to open in 2029, was also the topic of a tiff between the City of Perth and the state government last year.
The government had introduced legislation, repealing the Chevron-Hilton Hotel Agreement Act 1960, and allowing it to reclaim parts of the site from the council.
Former City of Perth Lord Mayor and current state opposition leader Basil Zempilas had claimed the state initially offered cash for the land.
The state government denied the claims.
The council and state were then embroiled in a spat over the value of the land.
