(Cricket news) 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.
Comments attributed to WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews AM:
“WA Cricket is working to transform the WACA Ground into an inclusive multi-sport venue and community and cultural hub for all, and we thank Lotterywest for supporting that mission.
“The grant will allow us to deliver a richer, more inclusive experience for all those who choose to play at or visit the iconic Ground.
“Western Australia as a whole will reap the rewards of this funding, as we ensure the WACA Ground continues to prosper and service the needs of cricket and the wider community, so we thank Lotterywest for helping us build our tomorrow.”
Comments attributed to Lotterywest Acting CEO Jeremy Hubble:
“Lotterywest is proud to support the WACA Ground Improvement Project with a $5.2 million grant, helping create an inclusive space for all Western Australians.
“This grant will go towards an all-abilities playground, calming and sensory rooms, changing facilities, and braille and audio looping for signage.
“Enhancing cultural representation will also be a focus for the funding, with art created to reflect the social and Aboriginal cultural history of the area, fostering storytelling and knowledge sharing.”
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