WACA light towers to be upgraded with colour LED lighting
The iconic light towers at the WACA Ground will be upgraded with new coloured LED lights, as part of the venue’s ongoing improvement project.
The large operation that will require the 17-metre-high steel headframes to be taken down and transported off-site from the historic Perth cricket ground.
The new lights will be coloured and able to be coordinated with the colours of the nearby Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge for special events, and allow the WACA to once again host international and world-class events.
The LED lighting upgrade is part of the next stage of the WACA Ground Improvement Project (WGIP), which began in August and is being jointly funded by the Australian Government, Western Australian Government, City of Perth, WA Cricket and Cricket Australia through the $1.6 billion Perth City Deal.
The current light towers were added to the WACA Ground in 1986 and stand at some 70 metres high, with each tower supporting an average of 136 light fittings.
All headframes will be dismantled into three sections, lowered to the ground, then transported to a specialist metal fabrication facility to strengthen and repaint the frames.
The new light luminaires and coloured unibars will then be installed in the headframes at ground level at the WACA Ground before being re-installed at the top of each tower.
The demolition of one light tower (light tower 2 next to Gate 2) is required to enable the construction of the new high-performance centre.
These works are due to be completed before the start of the 2022-23 cricket season and prior to significant works under the WGIP Main Works contract.
Let there be light! 💡 Our iconic light towers are getting an LED upgrade as part of the WACA Ground Improvement Project! 🏟️ #yourWACAGround pic.twitter.com/GBFCNImkhL
— WACA (@WACA_Cricket) March 17, 2022
WA Cricket CEO, Christina Matthews said, “The upgrade to LED lights is required to ensure the WACA Ground meets the International Cricket Council's (ICC) light standards and we can continue to host world-class cricket, sporting and entertainment events.
“It's an investment that will significantly reduce the running costs of the lights and extend the life of these towers by 25 years.”
The WGIP is anticipated to create 120 jobs in the construction phase and 250 ongoing jobs when operational.
The works also include the demolition of the Inverarity Stand and Prindiville Stand, while the playing arena will be lengthened to allow Australian Football to be once again played at the venue. WAFL club East Fremantle will call the WACA home for the next two seasons.
