WACA Ground future under the microscope
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http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ContentID=8971
Cricket legend David Boon in front of the WACA Ground's Lillee-Marsh Stand
The WA Cricket Association has been given two months to produce a 10-year blueprint that could determine the long-term future of its East Perth headquarters.
The blueprint will be submitted to John Langoulant’s major stadia task force by November 30 and could see cricket remain entrenched at the WACA Ground.
The request came after Sport Minister John Kobelke instructed the task force to further examine whether rugby union could be played at the WACA.
“As the WACA is a venue of great public interest, I would like the task force to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential to co-locate cricket and rugby at the WACA,” Mr Kobelke wrote to Langoulant.
WACA chairman David Williams said the association would present plans for the ground to remain a cricket-only venue, as well as sharing it with rugby.
“We have been assured that a submission for the WACA Ground to remain as a stand alone will be received and considered,” he said.
“We have until November 30 to provide a blueprint for the WACA as a shared venue between cricket and rugby or for cricket alone.”
RugbyWA negotiated with the WACA for several months this year about the Western Force playing Super 14 matches at the ground but later moved to support the redevelopment of Members Equity Stadium.
But a marriage between cricket and rugby could be back on the agenda as the task force prepares its final report to the State Government.
The final task force report will be required to examine:
• How a new stadium could cater for a Commonwealth Games or World Cup event.
• Transitional issues and the long-term viability of existing stadia.
• Detailed analysis of the three short-listed sites — Claisebrook, Kitchener Park and Subiaco Oval.
• Governance arrangements and management models fair to all sports. The WACA is eager to further develop its ground, with a new northern stand increasing the ground’s capacity to above 25,000.
That new stand would back on to Nelson Crescent, which is forecast to become the new retail and commercial centre of the Riverside precinct which is expected to have 5000 residents.
John Townsend
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