12 Aug, 2015

City Sports Hub Gets Green Light

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has been given in-principle support by Council to progress an exciting proposal to turn Narnungga (Park 25) into a community sports hub.

SACA, as one of the current lessees in Narnungga, first approached Council in 2013 proposing to fund and operate aspects of Council’s Master Plan for the area. A range of groups would utilise the facility, including amateur football, lacrosse, cricket and potentially beach volleyball. The proposal includes modern facilities on a smaller footprint than what is currently used.

A high priority project of the endorsed Sports Infrastructure Master Plan - West and South

Park Lands Regional Sports Areas, is the establishment of a community sports hub in Narnungga that incorporates consolidated buildings and car parking, and the establishment of a beach sports facility.

The endorsed Sports Infrastructure Master Plan is unfunded and the investment is ideally stakeholder driven in keeping with Outcome 4 of Council’s Active City Strategy, being to ‘facilitate the enhancement of community sports infrastructure in the City through peak sporting associations and educational institutions’.

One such sporting association is Volleyball SA, which is particularly excited by the opportunity to have a floodlit beach sports facility for city residents, visitors and workers to utilise.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said it was an exciting proposal that also ticked the boxes in regards to the endorsed Sports Infrastructure Master Plan, the Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy and Community Land Management Plan.

“The plan would improve the amenity of the space for informal use by the growing numbers of workers, visitors and students around this vibrant precinct.

“We want people to enjoy our city’s magnificent Park Lands and Council looks forward to partnering with SACA to add value to the proposal,” said Martin.

“It’s a great plan for the area, as Narnungga is so well located to the tram line, University of South Australia, New Royal Adelaide Hospital, West End retailers, eateries and bars.”

The proposal is in concept form only and further development and detail will be undertaken and subsequent approvals sought including negotiations with SACA around future lease arrangements. Council will also commence a community engagement process.

Building and car parking design would need to achieve appropriate outcomes for the Park Lands, such as water-sensitive design, solar gains, permeable surfaces, tree planting and architecture according to the Park Lands Building Design Guidelines.

Matt Halliwell