Mayor Mick Wainwright said it was part of the City’s budgeted capital works program and would be a great regional benefit.
“Drainage had become an issue at the showgrounds, so the works included the installation of subsoil drainage around the perimeter of the arena,” he said.
“The drain installed will collect the water from the arena and direct it to the dam in the arena’s north-west corner.”
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWSwan Valley/Gidgegannup ward councillor Darryl Trease said the previous surface had become uneven over the years.
“The existing ground of gravel and sand was stripped off and a fresh layer of gravel was laid and graded to the intended level,” he said.
“Staff visited numerous equestrian facilities in outer Perth to look at how they were constructed and their effectiveness.
“We also consulted extensively with the user groups to discuss their experiences and needs for the site.
“This resulted in agreement on a design that considered the learnings from other arenas and considered unique elements of Gidgegannup such as size, topography and soil type.
“Despite the rain in Gidgegannup on Saturday, the drain worked effectively.
“The arena stood up very well, and the City was pleased to receive positive feedback from the riders who took part in a rally there on Sunday.”