Compliance might not grab headlines but it’s the hidden backbone of every successful sports infrastructure project. When it’s missed, it costs more than money.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
In sports infrastructure, everyone talks about vision. But what about visibility?
The truth is: many of the biggest project blowouts, redesigns and delays come not from bold ideas—but from basic non-compliance. Whether it’s Australian Standards (AS), the National Construction Code (NCC), or the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), these invisible frameworks shape every public space we deliver.
At Xsentia, we’ve seen what happens when compliance is treated as a checklist at the end—instead of a foundation from the start. This article explores the real risks, the missed opportunities, and the smarter way forward.
What Compliance Really Means in Sports Design
Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about ensuring usability, safety and dignity—for every person who sets foot in the space.
For sports precincts, this means:
- Step-free access to every public entry point
- Equitable access to seating, amenities and viewing areas
- Ramps, rails and wayfinding that meet AS1428.1
- Accessible changerooms and sanitary facilities
- Vision-impaired signage, tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs)
- Emergency egress provisions for all users
- Lighting, corridor widths, and door pressures that meet code
It’s not about “nice to have”. It’s about legislated, enforceable, non-negotiable requirements.
The Standards Landscape
Here’s a snapshot of just a few standards that intersect with sports infrastructure:
| Code/Standard | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| AS 1428.1:2021 | Design for access and mobility (e.g. ramps, handrails, circulation spaces) |
| AS 1735 | Lift and elevator access provisions |
| AS 2890 | Car parking (including accessible bays and clearances) |
| NCC Volume 1 & 2 | Structural compliance, fire safety, amenities, energy, etc. |
| DDA (Cth, 1992) | Overarching legal obligation to provide non-discriminatory access |
| Premises Standards (2010) | How the DDA applies to the built environment |
| State-Based Guidelines | e.g. Sport & Recreation Victoria Design Standards for Sport & Recreation Facilities |
These codes work together—but they also evolve. Miss a clause or interpret one too late, and the redesigns can be devastating.
The Planning Risk: Why It’s Often Invisible
Why does non-compliance continue to catch projects out?
- Designers assume compliance will be picked up by certifiers (too late)
- Clients prioritise aesthetics or capacity over usability (false economy)
- Consultants defer DDA until construction documentation (costly)
- Stakeholders misunderstand obligations (“we can fix it later”)
We’ve seen changerooms built with incorrect clearances, ramps that were too steep, and lifts left out of schematic plans entirely—because “no one flagged it” early enough.
These aren’t oversights. They’re systemic planning gaps.
Real Impacts of Getting It Wrong
The consequences of non-compliance aren’t hypothetical. They are real, measurable, and often reputational.
| Risk Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cost Overruns | Demolition and reconstruction of non-compliant paths, ramps, toilets |
| Legal Liability | Breaches of DDA or Premises Standards; human rights complaints |
| Lost Funding | Ineligible for State or Federal infrastructure funding |
| Reputational Damage | Clubs and councils seen as exclusionary or non-inclusive |
| Time Delays | Late-stage redesign, re-approvals, certification failures |
As the Australian Human Rights Commission notes, access breaches can result in both monetary penalties and enforceable undertakings under Federal law (AHRC – DDA & Sport).
How We Embed Compliance at Xsentia
Our approach is simple: plan for compliance as a design value—not a legal hurdle.
We work with access consultants, certifiers and specialist user groups from schematic stage, not after tender. This includes:
- Running DDA workshops with user reps and stakeholders
- Embedding AS/NCC clauses into the design brief and functional layouts
- Preparing early-stage compliance audits of existing facilities
- Coordinating with certifiers on interpretation issues in multi-use facilities
- Reviewing fixture/equipment selection against clearance and usability codes
- Including access and safety criteria in procurement scoring
This approach reduces risk, avoids redesigns, and creates better infrastructure for everyone.
Case Example: Umpires HPC
During the schematic review for the new high-performance centre at , our team identified three key non-compliant items in early layout drafts:
- Corridor widths not compliant with AS1428.1 between warm-up and change zones
- Changeroom WC partitions that blocked wheelchair turning circles
- Non-compliant ramp gradients on entries due to existing site levels
We worked with, architects and access consultants to:
- Redesign circulation to meet code while retaining functional adjacencies
- Adjust levels and landings through minor excavation
- Reconfigure toilet layouts and update FF&E accordingly
The result: no last-minute redesigns, full certifier sign-off, and a safer, more inclusive environment.
Don’t Just Comply Design for Dignity
Compliance is the minimum. The best projects go beyond.
We ask:
- Does a user feel independent in this space?
- Can someone navigate it without asking for help?
- Are inclusive features obvious, not hidden?
- Is there dignity in every action—from entry to changing to watching?
That’s why we design:
- Unisex umpire facilities
- Adult change tables and hoist-equipped rooms
- Social spaces with multiple seating heights and shade
- Step-free circulation across all zones (no “detour for wheelchairs”)
It’s not just law. It’s leadership.
How to Plan for Compliance from Day One
To avoid risk and maximise impact:
- Engage an access consultant during schematic design—not post-tender
- Include compliance clauses in your project brief and funding applications
- Run user walkthroughs using actual floor plans—don’t assume
- Have your certifier review layouts before documentation starts
- Ensure procurement specs align with access outcomes (e.g. door hardware, lighting, signage)
- Use funding checklists like Sport & Rec Victoria’s standard templates to catch gaps early
We also recommend periodic compliance reviews during delivery—especially as layouts shift under value management.
The Myth of “Retrofitting Later”
We often hear: “If it’s not perfect, we’ll fix it post-construction.”
That mindset is dangerous. Why?
- DDA breaches aren’t paused until you have time to fix them
- Retrofitting access provisions is often 4–8x more expensive
- Late-stage changes delay occupation and certifications
- Missed compliance during construction can void occupancy permits
It’s not a future problem. It’s a now problem.
Final Thought: The Best Design is the One Everyone Can Use
We don’t design for perfect athletes. We design for people. People with prams, injuries, wheelchairs, anxiety, vision impairments, or no knowledge of the venue.
Compliance ensures no one gets left out.
At Xsentia, we bring compliance out of the fine print and into the design discussion—because accessible infrastructure is successful infrastructure.
