More than 100 aquatic and recreation professionals gathered on Friday 20 February for LIWA’s Technical Tour and Presentation of The Pavilion and the WACA Ground Improvement Project—an exclusive look inside one of WA’s most anticipated aquatic and recreation facilities ahead of the WACA Ground Community Open Day on 28 February.

With the unmistakable WACA backdrop (yes, even the treadmills get a better view than most of us), attendees explored how this redevelopment has been designed to do much more than modernise a stadium precinct—it’s built to welcome the East Perth community in, every day of the week, not just on match day.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity to bring our industry together in such an iconic location,” said Leith Fradd, LIWA Executive Officer. “The Pavilion shows what’s possible when we plan for community impact as well as facility excellence—creating a place where people can swim, train, recover and connect, right in the heart of Perth.”

A facility designed to be lived in, not just visited

Operated by national provider BlueFit, The Pavilion is a world-class community hub developed as part of the WACA Ground Improvement Project—a joint initiative between the WA Government, Federal Government and City of Perth, in partnership with WA Cricket and Cricket Australia.

What stood out during the tour was the way the facility blends performance and participation. The recreation offering includes:

• Group fitness studios
• Individual reformer Pilates stations
• A dedicated recovery area
• Free weights, machines and cardio equipment
• Expansive training zones overlooking the iconic WACA playing surface

And, of course, the aquatic side brings serious “wow” factor—including the rare chance to watch live sport from a 50-metre outdoor pool, alongside additional family and community features such as an indoor learn-to-swim pool, waterslides, and an aquatic play area.

The venue also includes community-focused spaces like an all-abilities playground, and a public café, Wirin (meaning “spirit” in Noongar), with a menu inspired by the six Noongar seasons—further reinforcing the intent to make the precinct welcoming and inclusive.

A redevelopment that connects the city

A key theme from the day was how the project’s purpose extends well beyond facility upgrades. The WACA redevelopment is positioned as part of a broader movement to create an active, connected precinct—helping form a corridor linking the Perth CBD through to Optus Stadium, and inviting community use well outside match-day traffic.

The redevelopment is supported by a $99.7 million investment from the WA Government and $5.2 million from Lotterywest, helping to deliver a more accessible and vibrant community destination in East Perth. It also aligns with the WA Government’s PlayOn WA: 2030 initiative.

Industry insights from project and operations leaders

The session featured presentations and insights from:

• Brad Paatsch (Managing Director, Paatsch Group), who shared perspectives on planning, design, partnerships and major project delivery across complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Brett McEwin (Deputy CEO, BlueFit), who spoke to the operational approach, commissioning journey, and how programming, staffing structures, asset management (including the unique slides) and promotion come together to support a successful opening and long-term community engagement.

Important Thank Yous

We want to acknowledge the efforts Kerry O’Sullivan, General Manager of Customer Experience with WA Cricket, in providing LIWA with the opportunity to tour the facilities. Also a large thanks to Brad and Brett for their expertise and enthusiasm in presenting this challenging commissioning and successful development. Also Bluefit for the drinks and canapes which were thoroughly enjoyed.

LIWA thanks our Platinum Professional Development Sponsor, Pool Robotics Perth, whose support helped make this professional development opportunity free for members. Their ongoing commitment is helping strengthen capability across WA’s aquatic and recreation workforce—so the sector can keep delivering facilities and experiences the community is proud of.