Former WA attorney-general Christian Porter elevated as Mike Snell resigns from board at WA Cricket AGM

One of the key drivers of the WACA’s ground redevelopment project has resigned from the WA Cricket board for personal reasons.

Mike Snell, a retired accountant and partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, announced he was stepping away at Wednesday night’s Annual General Meeting. He joined the board in May, 2023 following a previous role in the 1980s.

Former WA attorney-general Christian Porter was officially elevated to the board at the AGM.

Porter replaces former WA governor Kerry Sanderson.

Both Porter and Snell, who will be replaced, are board appointees.

As chair of WA Cricket’s audit and finance committee, Snell helped to steer the organisation through difficult times as its ground redevelopment project met resistance from a small, but vocal section of members.

WA Cricket also confirmed the redevelopment project costs had risen to $169 million, taking into account the treatment and removal of contaminated soil.

It is believed the bulk of that contaminated soil has been removed from the site and WA Cricket remains confident the redevelopment will be completed by next June or July and officially opened in time for the 2025-26 summer.

Since leaving politics at the 2022 Federal Election amid historical rape accusations against him, Porter has returned to working as a barrister.

He previously served on the WACA board until 2014.

Incoming CEO John Stephenson also attended the AGM before flying back to the UK.

The former England Test opener won the job ahead of more than 30 Australian and international candidates to replace Christina Matthews who stepped down in March after 12 years in the role.

Stephenson, 59, who played one Test against Australia in 1989, joins from English County club Essex, where he has been CEO for three years.

He will begin his new role full-time in November.

As revealed in The West Australian in April, the WACA became aware of lead contamination in the soil following the demolition of the Inverarity and Prindiville Stands to make way for the new 10,000-seat facility.

WA Cricket received $139.7 million from the Federal, State and Local Governments and $4m from Cricket Australia towards the redevelopment.

WA Cricket will pick up the $15.3m shortfall and with just under $3m raised by the WA Cricket Foundation, they will need to find another $12.3m.

WA’s capital reserves currently sit at $11m, with one of the option selling the naming rights to the ground.

It is understood it will still be known as the WACA Ground, prefixed by the corporate entity that pays for the rights.

WA Cricket hopes the refurbishment of the WACA’s northern precinct will not only transform the iconic venue into a multi-sport and community facility, but provide a steady income stream.

The project will have 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 and museum. Plans for a child care facility were ditched.

Critics of the project fear the association will eat into its cash reserves and be left with the costs of running the aquatic facility.

The WACA Ground Improvement Project was originally priced at $75-$105m, upgraded to $110m and is now at $169m due to the soil contamination, rising construction costs and delays, largely caused by COVID.

Stephenson told The West Australian on September 19, the ground redevelopment will help WA Cricket become self-sufficient.

“I think they do pretty well anyway in terms of the percentage of the revenue they produce themselves compared to what Cricket Australia gives them (they receive about 55 per cent of their income from CA),” Stephenson said.

“They are doing well compared to other States.

“We have the same challenge in the UK with Counties. We get measured the same way on what percentage of revenue is from the ECB and how much is generated by yourself.

“The ground redevelopment will massively help with those revenue streams coming through.”