WACA board member Paul Collins fumes as $154.7 million redevelopment plans don’t include urinals

A multimillion-dollar revamp of WA’s home of cricket will not include urinals in male bathrooms in a bizarre decision that one furious board member claims was based on “modern times” and “inclusivity”.

The $154.7 million WACA Ground revamp — which would transform it into a 10,000 patron world-class facility complete with a public aquatic centre and gym — is set to be completed by 2025.

But plans for the redevelopment have revealed there would be no urinals included in men’s bathrooms in its new northern end stand for the general public, which would replace the current Inverarity and Prindiville stands.

WA Cricket Association board member Paul Collins said he was in disbelief and slammed the designs for not including the basic amenity.

“To my disbelief I found that the general male public will not have access to a urinal on the entire northern half of the WACA ground,” he wrote in a social media post.

“I queried this and wondered whether the female toilets were copied across as the male toilets by mistake. Nope. I am told it’s ‘modern times’ and required to address ‘inclusivity’.”

Mr Collins, a father of three daughters, followed up by telling The West Australian “members deserved better” and that his children had expressed “dismay” at plans for a shared wash area in the level three members area.

Urinals are a feature in almost all men’s public bathroom facilities as they take up less space, use less water and are quicker to use than cubicles.

However, a WA Cricket spokesman said the designs had been developed with hygiene and flexibility in mind.

“The WACA Ground Improvement Project is in the final stages of design review and approvals,” the spokesperson said.

“The new facilities have clearly designated and separated toilet and wash basin facilities for men and women. The design has been developed with hygiene and flexibility in mind, allowing the venue the best cater for any event eg all-female or all-male school events.

“This has been signed off by the build surveyor, meeting all legislative requirements.”

The project is set to transform the precinct into an elite community-based cricket facility, with a capacity of 10,000 but scope to increase to 15,000 with plans to host State level cricket, WBBL and WAFL matches as well as Tests against lower-ranked nations and AFL games if the WA Government secures a Gather Round.

It will house WA Cricket’s administration, players’ locker-rooms and high-performance centre, bowling nets for the public, as well as upgraded members’ facilities, a licensed cafe, aquatic centre, health club, all-abilities playground, museum. There are also plans for a child care facility.

The project is expected to start in September and take 18 months to two years to complete.