Progression of the $168.9 million WACA ground improvement project is ramping up, ahead of its tipped practical completion in September next year.
Progression of the $168.9 million WACA ground improvement project is ramping up, ahead of its tipped practical completion in September next year.
Representatives of the Perth media were given a site tour on Monday afternoon, following the structural completion of the outdoor 50m pool, which is located at the Hale Street side of the iconic venue.
WA Cricket interim chief executive officer Justin Michael said the venue becoming an all-year round facility was ‘really important’ to the organisation.
This, coupled by members of the community capitalising on a raft of new facilities at the site – including the waterslides and all-abilities playground – could bode well for the off-field element of the business.
“What I think the project is going to do is bring new members and fans to the cricket,” he said.
Mr Michael also said incoming CEO John Stephenson, due to start in November, would likely provide ideal guidance, with the project earmarked for practical completion by September next year.
“We’ve been briefing him along the way, so I think John comes with a wealth of experience from Lords and his time at the Marylebone Cricket Club,” he said.
“He spent 17 years there working on the various re-developments of that iconic ground. And more recently, he worked at Essex (country cricket club) as their CEO.
“His expertise is going to be so important.
“And we’ve got great expertise here at WA Cricket as well, so we’re going to support him to make sure we deliver this project by this time next year, which is going to be amazing.”
Early works on the project began in August 2021, however cost blowouts – for a variety of reasons – resulted in its price tag ballooning from $74 million to $154.7 million and beyond.
In November last year, WA Cricket also awarded a works building contract to ADCO Constructions.
Mr Michael said a number of fundraising initiatives – including prospective naming rights agreements for assets at the ground – would be explored over the next year in order to ensure the project is fully funded.
The project is part of the 10-year $1.7 billion Perth City deal – a concept funded by the federal and state governments, along with Cricket Australia, WA Cricket and Cricket Australia.
Another man with a unique perspective of the project is WA men’s team all-rounder Hilton Cartwright, who is presently completing a construction management degree onsite.
“It’s helped me really relate to what I’ve been studying in the books and how it works out here,” Mr Cartwright, who is completing his internship at the project site, said.
“I’m a year into a four-year degree. So everything I’m doing at the moment, I’m trying to see how it fits out here and what others are talking about.
“There’s definitely been some co-relation in how I’ve been able to structure my assignments, which has certainly helped.”
