Adelaide Aquatic Centre is a money pit, report warns, as council ponders Crows proposal
City ratepayers have spent a fortune maintaining the Adelaide Aquatic Centre over the past decade – and the repair bill will only increase if the Crows parklands plan gets knocked back.
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The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is a black hole for ratepayers’ money, a new report reveals.
The City Council has this week released a report which reveals it has spent more than $18 million on repairs and upgrades to the North Adelaide complex over the past 10 years.
And a proposal to spend up to $15 million upgrading the ageing centre would do little to improve services or reduce its burden on ratepayers, it says.
Each year it costs the council $700,000 to operate the centre, which was converted into an indoor pool in 1985.
The council has said it would need to spend up to $15 million upgrading the complex, if a bid by the Crows to build a $65 million training and administration complex at the site was knocked back.
“Estimates indicate that short-term expenditure could be in the range of $4 million to $6 million, but significant work could be in the range of $10 million to $15 million, depending on the scope of works,” the report said.
“These works address and maintain the condition of the asset but do not necessarily enhance the services provided or address the high operating costs. These issues and the future direction for the facility will need to be carefully considered by council irrespective of the unsolicited proposal by the Adelaide Football Club.”
Issues with the centre, which is visited by 715,000 people each year, include concrete damage and rust.
The council in June gave the Adelaide Football Club approval to press ahead with concept plans to redevelop the Aquatic Centre site for its new headquarters.
This was on the proviso the community had access to some of the recreation facilities, including the pool.
Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde said the centre was “approaching the end of its life”.
“I’m supportive of us considering (the Crows) proposal if it means we can deliver more for our community than if we go it alone,” Cr Hyde said.
Norwood Swimming Club is one of the centre’s biggest tenants. The club’s president, Nic Cox, supported the Crows’s redevelopment, providing there “is better facilities with guaranteed access and continued use of the pool”.
“We are the biggest club but train at the worst facilities,” Mr Cox said.
Adelaide Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said the club was committed to providing a venue the community could access.
“We are determined to deliver a facility which provides benefits for all relevant stakeholders, including the local community,” he said.