New-look WACA to become eastern gateway to Perth
New-look WACA to become eastern gateway to Perth
By Glen Foreman
November 26, 2008 03:05pm
PERTH'S WACA Ground will become the new gateway to Perth - with apartments overlooking the ground - under redevelopment plans released today.
Planning Minister John Day, together with WACA representatives, unveiled the Riverside Masterplan that will see commercial and residential projects developed around the East Perth area.
Mr Day said the $550 million project would take about 10 years to complete and would transform the eastern entrance to Perth.
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State Government Commits to Cricket Academy
State Government Commits to Cricket Academy
03/09/2008
The Western Australian Cricket Association has received a massive boost with the State Government committing $5 million towards the creation of a world-class Cricket Academy, should the redevelopment of the WACA Ground go ahead.
The Cricket Academy is planned for The University of Western Australia's Sports Park in Floreat at the present time, however there are several other excellent possibilities. It is an integral part of the WACA's plan to remain at the home of cricket in Western Australia – the WACA Ground.
The need for a new Academy in Western Australia first arose in 2004 after the release of a master plan by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA) which proposed a road to be built between the WACA Ground and Trinity College. This would result in approximately 30% of the outdoor training facilities at the Ground being lost.
In April 2007, the WACA announced a major strategic partnership with Ascot Capital Limited to redevelop the WACA Ground into a stunning 25,000 capacity venue for interstate and international cricket, as well as being home to two residential towers, two office blocks, and a retail and entertainment precinct.
The redevelopment proposal requires the existing indoor and outdoor practice facilities at the WACA Ground to be removed. While match facilities at the WACA Ground remain world-renowned, indoor training facilities no longer satisfy the needs of modern players, both elite and developing.
The establishment of the Cricket Academy will provide excellent facilities to deliver programs developed by expert staff, and will assist in the training and education of elite male and female cricketers, as well as community, country, junior and Indigenous cricketers from across Western Australia.
The facility would also be accessible to cricket playing nations and students from around the world, and in particular the Indian Ocean Rim countries including South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore and Malaysia.
Facilities to be developed at the Cricket Academy include:
• 8-wicket indoor training hall – 30m x 60m
• 50 outdoor practice wickets
• Strength and conditioning area
• Physiotherapy area
• Office accommodation for WACA Cricket Operations
The Academy would be in a sporting precinct that will allow shared resources between the WACA and the Western Australian Institute of Sport, The University of Western Australia's School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, RugbyWA, AthleticA, Basketball WA, Christ Church Grammar School, John XXIII College, as well as the wider cricket community.
Excerpts from the Liberal party’s Sport and Recreation Policy Document also reveal that a Liberal Government would support the WACA’s redevelopment plans, as well as the proposed Cricket Academy.
The project also has the strong support of The University of Western Australia, with the Cricket Academy enhancing UWA's Sports Park and creating many synergies between the WACA and UWA.
http://www.waca.com.au/news/detail.asp?ID=1187