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This $189m project has revitalised one of Australia’s most historic and internationally renowned cricket grounds, combining world-class high-performance facilities with lively community amenities. The redevelopment, as part of the $1.5 billion Perth City Deal signed by the Federal and State Governments and the City of Perth, was carried out using Enabling/Forward Works contracts and an innovative Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) followed by a Construct-Only procurement approach.

Central to the project is WA Cricket’s vision to develop a sustainable community and sporting hub with cricket as its core focus.

 

Key features

The redeveloped WACA Ground delivers:

• A boutique sporting venue maintaining ICC Accreditation as an International Cricket Venue with a capacity of approximately 10,000, with an event overlay capacity of 15,000 complementing Optus Stadium
• New central pavilion and state-of-the-art training facilities, replacing the demolished Inverarity and Prindiville stands
• Resort-style community aquatic precinct featuring a 50-metre outdoor pool, indoor learn-to-swim facilities, water leisure slides, and aquatic amenities
• High-performance community gymnasium and sports medicine health tenancy
• Multiple retail and hospitality outlets
• Public café and revitalised WACA Museum
• All-abilities playground and inclusive amenities, Changing Places and Sensory/Calming Rooms
• Community health and wellbeing spaces
• Enhanced LED lighting infrastructure, replaced HV infrastructure and precinct-wide improvements

The retained Lillee-Marsh Stand, Players Pavilion, Scoreboard and South West Pavilion preserve the Ground’s heritage, while the new facilities turn it into a multi-sport and community hub.

 

Project challenges and solutions

The WACA Ground Redevelopment faced significant challenges that required innovative project management approaches to ensure success.

Complex multi-stakeholder coordination: With multiple funding partners including the State Government, Federal Government, Cricket Australia, and Lotterywest, the project required sophisticated change and cost management. DCWC (now part of RP Infrastructure) implemented a rigorous allocation tracking system that ensured all parties were satisfied at project conclusion that funding distributions were accurate and transparent.

Procurement strategy alignment: When the City of Perth decided not to proceed with the aquatic facility component during detailed design, our team proposed an adjustment to the procurement strategy to match the revised funding agreements. This enabled the design team to continue developing the main building designs while aquatic facility funding was secured independently through the State Government, mitigating project delays.

Development approval navigation: Securing development approval for the funded components required strategic consultation with Development WA. Our team successfully negotiated for the Aquatic Facility to be subject to a separate DA, enabling the design team to progress designs for tendering on other project elements without delay.

Latent ground conditions: The discovery of ground contamination from historical land reclamation from the river foreshore necessitated immediate action. Our team implemented comprehensive environmental management plans and established early engagement protocols with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), ensuring remediation works were integrated seamlessly into the construction programme.

Live environment management: With ongoing operations during construction, supporting services for staff, patrons, events, and groundskeeping was essential. Our team devised detailed construction methodologies and staging plans that minimised disruption while ensuring safety and operational continuity.

 

Project delivery

Our role as Lead Project Manager from inception to handover, as well as Superintendent during construction under an Amended AS4000 contract, involved direct participation through design workshops, coordinating the design team, managing programmes and budgets including financial accounting, and providing comprehensive construction phase services across multiple contracts covering oval works, main building, aquatic facility, and infrastructure works.

The project delivery approach included:

• Detailed project oversight and proactive issue resolution
• Rigorous adherence to project timelines, separable portions, and budget constraints
• Regular and transparent communication with the client and contractors, facilitating timely decision-making and problem-solving
• Thorough documentation and compliance with contractual obligations
• Extensive value management processes to optimise project outcomes
• Management of extremely challenging ground conditions throughout construction

 

Project outcomes

More than just a sporting venue, the revitalised WACA Ground is a true hub catering to Western Australia’s cricket, sport, and community needs. Enabling/Forward Works construction began in 2020 with works to lengthen the oval and demolition of existing stands, sports lighting and headframe upgrades and light tower demolition, with the revitalised WACA Ground set for completion in early 2026.

Operationally the Aquatic Facility and Health Club has been open to members and the general public since the beginning of February 2026.