Adelaide Aquatic Centre firming as location for Adelaide Crows’ community and sports centre

A community and sports centre is at the heart of a potential Adelaide Crows move to the North Adelaide parklands, with the Adelaide Aquatic Centre site firming as the location.

Adelaide Aquatic Centre in better times. It has become run down and requires significant upgrades.

• Crows profits soaring

A community and sports centre is at the heart of a potential Adelaide Crows move to the North Adelaide parklands — and the site of the ageing Adelaide Aquatic Centre is firming as the best potential location.

After North Adelaide residents raised concerns with Adelaide MP Rachel Sanderson about a potential shift, a Crows spokesman told The Advertiser yesterday there had been “preliminary” discussions with Adelaide City Council over a move closer to the city.

“We have long said that we are always on the lookout for opportunities and regularly speak with local governments and other parties across Adelaide,” he said.

“With regard to the City of Adelaide Council, our discussions about a community and sports centre have been preliminary in nature and without detailed planning to this point.”

The Advertiser first revealed last year that the Crows were eyeing off a move to the North Adelaide parklands from their West Lakes base with the council’s 1.6ha nursery site at War Memorial Drive earmarked as a location.

Rory Sloane leading Adelaide training on at West Lakes on Thursday morning … the Crows are looking at a move to the North Adelaide parklands. Picture: Morgan Sette

But council sources have told The Advertiser that discussions have moved to the Aquatic Centre, and the surrounding ovals, as leading location.

Council director of services Steve Mathewson said talks had been preliminary there was no formal proposal and no deal had been done.

But The Advertiser understands that multiple councillors and senior council administration are open to the idea after recent discussions and briefings.

But The Advertiser understands multiple councillors and senior council staff are open to the idea. The council loses $700,000-$800,000 annually because of the condition of the ageing facilities.

Concerns about costs have shifted to fears over general safety and it is also viewed as not fit for use.

When The Advertiser visited the centre on Thursday, the diving tower was closed, with parts of it rusting, and one of the grandstands was also closed for safety reasons.

People have also cut themselves on tiles in the pools.

The Advertiser understands that large scale works are urgently required for the facility.

This has made the proposition of the Crows taking on the site in some way an attractive one within Town Hall.

The potential benefits on the struggling O’Connell and Melbourne streets from a Crows’ move are also a key factor — and could aid the success of any development on the former Le Cornu site.

Councillors are hoping that the site or any potential development would remain open to the public in some way if the Crows shift to the area.

At a meeting of the North Adelaide Society on Thursday night, which The Advertiser attended, local residents said they had asked Liberal Member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor about “rumours” that the Crows were seeking the Aquatic Centre for their new headquarters.

The North Adelaide Society said they were concerned that the playing fields bounded by Barton Terrace West, Jeffcott St, Fitzroy Tce and Prospect Rd would be fenced off as a result of any Crows move to the area.

The playing fields are leased by Blackfriars Priory, which was renegotiated just last year.

Ms Sanderson and Ms Verschoor were unable to attend the meeting.

Just seven per cent of users of the Aquatic Centre are Adelaide City Council ratepayers.