Expression of Interest: Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi Sports Facilities 26/27

Project summary

The City of Adelaide is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from eligible community sporting organisations and educational institutions to hire sports facilities located within Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) during the following periods:

  • Winter Season 2026 (1 April 2026 – 30 Sept 2026)
  • Summer Season 2026/27 (1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027)
  • Full year (1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027)

    Key dates – Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi Seasonal Hire

    • Expression of Interest Opens: 7 November 2025
    • Expression of Interest Closes: 22 December 2025
    • Allocations Confirmed: Mid-January 2026
    • Review of Submission Allocations Confirmed: January 2026
    • Hire Agreements Commence: From 31 March 2026

    Project information

    Optimal use of Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) facilities results in an increase in use of and access to the Adelaide Park Lands.

    Council is seeking applications for seasonal or annual hire. Expressions of interest for short term use (shorter than 10 consecutive weeks) will not be considered. Seasonal hire fees are set in

    10-session blocks. Proposed usage does not have to be exactly in 10-session blocks, however. A session is a block of time of up to 4-hours long.

    Criterium Track

    • Ten+ sessions from 1 April – 30 September 2026
    • Ten+ sessions 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027
    • Use over full year (minimum of 20 sessions) Full year 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027

    Premium Sports Field

    • Ten+ sessions 1 April – 30 September 2026
    • Ten+ sessions 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027
    • Use over the full year (minimum of 20 sessions) Full year 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026

    Southern Sports Fields

    • Ten+ sessions 1 April – 30 September 2026
    • Ten+ sessions Ten+ sessions 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027
    • Use over the full year (minimum of 20 sessions) Full year 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027

    What are we looking for?

    The main aim for the City of Adelaide is to activate Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) with sporting activities.

    The following principles will inform the selection process:

    • Priority will be given to community sporting activities over elite sporting activities and for-profit businesses
    • Priority will be given to junior participants aged U13
    • Activities are to be complimentary to the Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) facilities and sports field carrying capacity
    • Activities that target people from underrepresented groups will be prioritised

    Who can apply?

    Applications will be considered from:

    • Organisations or groups that are legally constituted as an incorporated association
    • Not for profit companies limited by guarantee
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations (under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2006)
    • Educational Institutions
    • Commercial organisations and social enterprises demonstrating a clear benefit for the community

    Submissions will be open until Monday 22 December 2025 with allocations confirmed in late January 2026.

    EOI indicative timelines

    EOI Opens

    7 November 2025

    EOI Closes

    22 December 2025

    Review Submissions

    Mid-January 2026

    Notify applicants of council decision

    Late January 2026

    Hire agreements commence

    31 March 2026


    The City of Adelaide is the custodian of the Adelaide Park Lands, and to activate relevant areas, looks to partner with community sporting organisations and educational institutions through the licensing of sporting fields and leasing of buildings.

    Under the relevant chapters of the Community Land Management Plan, the sporting fields will operate under a licence arrangement which provides the licensee with first right of use (as nominated and approved). During the times where the sporting fields are not being used by the licensee or subsequent sub-lessees, they are then available to the public. Sports buildings operate under a lease arrangement giving lessees sole occupancy for co-operative use and sub-letting consistent with the permitted uses.

    It is proposed that, as a minimum, the responsibility of holding a lease/licence agreement with the City of Adelaide for buildings and sports fields in the Park Lands is that the lessee:

    • Uses the leased and licenced area in accordance with the approved Permitted Use (being community sport related)
    • Pay all rent and licence fees as per the Adelaide Park Lands Leasing and Licencing
    • Policy and Council’s annually endorsed Fees and Charges schedule
    • Pays all costs associated with the use of the building and licensed area (i.e. telephone, electricity, gas, oil, water, and any other services/utilities)
    • Maintains and repairs any buildings, fixtures, fittings, or structures erected, fixed, or placed in, on or under the Lease and Licence Area in good and safe repair and condition, such as:
      • drains, pipes, fencing, goal posts, person holes, reticulation equipment, all electrical equipment (including floodlights); and similar services.
      • in cases where playing surfaces form the whole or part of the Licence Area, perimeter fencing, net posts and perimeter access gates, sports lights, irrigation etc.
    • Will hold appropriate insurance policies (i.e. Public Liability, Building and Infrastructure insurance)
    • Acknowledges that the building and licenced area may not be available for use and occupation during public or special events held in the Park Lands
    • Acknowledges that the licensed area will be used by the broader community when not in use by the lessee for informal recreation and sport activities.
    • Encourage multipurpose usage of facilities where appropriate through sub-letting and casual hire arrangements

    Community Benefit (40%)

    • The application is for community level sport.
    • The proposed use will benefit more than one user group.
    • There is significant demand for the sport(s).
    • Number of participants per session.
    • Whilst not exclusive, the application caters for 
      • city residents or
      • people from underrepresented groups (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, women/girls, people on low incomes, newly arrived migrants and refugees, international students and people with a disabilities).

    Activation (40%)

    • The application results in the facilities being used frequently i.e. can demonstrate year-round use by the applicant and its sub-lessees.
    • The activities complement the existing facilities and maximises usage relative to the sports field carrying capacity (and potential capacity).
    • The application caters for a wide variety of participants (e.g. by age, gender, cultural background, ability) and types of activities.
    • The application does not adversely impact on residents or other users of the park.

    Management/Governance/Risk (20%)

    • The applicant is financially reliable and has no outstanding debt or grant acquittals with Council or have an unresolved breach of an existing lease or licence agreement with the City of Adelaide or another council.
    • The applicant is affiliated with a peak or governing body.
    • The applicant is actively involved in one or more of the following organisational development opportunities: Good Sports Program, Game Plan, Play by the Rules and/or club administrators and coaches regularly undergo development opportunities such as coach education, child safe officer training (evidence of participation may be required).

    Applications

    • EOI applications must be submitted by the due date. We will not accept late applications.
    • After the closing date, all EOI applications will be acknowledged in writing via email.
    • A review panel will assess your application against the assessment criteria you provided on the EOI Form.
    • Information provided in your application will be made publicly available through Council’s agendas and minutes.
    • Given the competitive nature of this EOI process, staff are unable to offer personalised advice or information to applicants as doing so could potentially provide an unfair advantage to certain applicants over others.
    • Council reserves the right to not select any proponent and may choose to conduct a new EOI process.

    What do we need to apply?

    You must provide:

    •  A completed EOI application form in hard copy or online that:
      • includes details of your organisation, and
      • addresses each section of the assessment criteria.
    • Evidence of current public liability insurance to the value of $20 million.

    Please go through the below carefully before applying.

    How do we submit our EOI?

    Online

    Submit an Expression of Interest

    Hardcopy

    Written submissions can be dropped off at the Customer Centre at 25 Pirie Street or posted:


    Att: Ben Mesisca

    Expression of Interest

    [Insert here the facility you are applying for]

    GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001


    Key Dates – Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi Seasonal Hire

    • Expression of Interest Opens: 7 November 2025
    • Expression of Interest Closes: 22 December 2025
    • Allocations Confirmed: Mid-January 2026
    • Review of Submission Allocations Confirmed: January 2026
    • Hire Agreements Commence: From 31 March 2026

    FAQs

    This will depend on the number of applicants and their suitability against the assessment criteria. The City of Adelaide retains sole discretion as to who it offers hire agreements to.

    The hire costs are based on Council’s annually endorsed fees and charges schedule. Exact costs will be negotiated with successful applicants. The following endorsed fees can be used as a guide.

    Seasonal hire fees are applied per number of sessions. Sessions are races, matches or training dates/sessions up to 4 hours each. Examples for applying these fees are:

    • An organisation applying to use the criterium track for 10 sessions on a Tuesday and 10 sessions on a Thursday will be charged for 20 sessions
    • A cricket club applying to play 10 all-day cricket matches will be charged for 20 sessions (2 sessions per match)

    Any bookings in addition to those included in the hire agreement will be charged as a casual booking (facility dependent) and may incur a separate booking fee.

    Yes, the change rooms will be available to book for one-off events or casual bookings, however these will not be considered as part of this expression of interest process.

    No, hire agreements do not permit organisations to park their car on the Park Lands. All users will be required to use the available on-street parking. Vehicle access permits (enabling loading and unloading of equipment) may be issued upon request.

    Need more information?

    For enquiries, please contact our Coordinator, Recreation and Sport Programs – Community Lifestyle, Ben Mesisca:

    Phone