All Western Australians and those who choose to visit will be able to freely enjoy the iconic WACA Ground, thanks to a grant from major supporter Lotterywest.
The $5.2 million grant will fund a host of inclusive elements of the WACA Ground Improvement Project to provide freely available, accessible, recreational and cultural facilities fostering community connection through participation.
Funds will go towards facilities including ‘changing places’, which are larger and have more facilities than standard accessible toilets to meet the needs of people with disability and their carers. Calming and sensory rooms will also feature, designed to provide focus and comfort to people with sensory processing issues.
The grant will also fund braille signage for visitors who are vision-impaired and audio loops around the Ground, allowing people who have a hearing aid to connect to the audio system and clearly hear communication in the space.
It will also connect visitors and the East Perth community to the social, cultural and Aboriginal history of the WACA Ground through the commissioning and installation of public art in the Plaza and around the Ground. In addition, there will be signage and points of interest around the Ground and interactive displays in the new museum.
The new all-abilities playground will be the showpiece of Lotterywest’s contribution, with the state-of-the-art design revealed today.
Located in the northwestern end of the Ground, the playground will take the form of a giant goanna, providing a memorable, exciting, and enjoyable experience for all to play in.
The body of the goanna features a winding, wheelchair-accessible ramped path that gradually climbs to the head of the reptile, where a double slide represents it’s forked tongue. The body incorporates a series of tunnels with a range of sensory panels enabling children of all abilities to have a tactile and textural interaction.
The public space will also feature swings, spinners, climbing nets, slides, and monkey bars, along with a sensory garden and sandpit.
The $163.4 million WACA Ground Improvement Project is a part of the 10-year, $1.66 billion Perth City Deal. The Project is facilitated by WA Cricket and Cricket Australia, along with local, state, and federal governments.
Major works are underway, with the Project slated for completion in late-2025.