Adelaide City Council to vote on giving Crows guidelines to prepare Aquatic Centre revamp proposal

The city council will vote early next week whether to give the Crows guidelines to prepare a proposal to revamp the Adelaide Aquatic Centre for its new HQ.

THE Crows could be a step closer to redeveloping the Adelaide Aquatic Centre site, with Adelaide City Council set to vote on whether to allow the football club to press on with its plans.

The council is expected to vote on Tuesday about whether it should issue the Adelaide Football Club with guidelines to prepare a “concept” for its proposed $60 million training and administration complex.

The Crows would then have to address the council’s “guiding principles”.

These include community benefit and engagement, impact on parklands, economic outcomes and value for money.

“If approved, these draft guiding principles … will form the framework for further developing and ultimately assessing a detailed proposal from the AFC,” a council document says.

The Advertiser first revealed last year that the Crows were eyeing a move to the North Adelaide parklands.

Taylor Walker and Heath Younie at training for the Crows at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

The council received a proposal from the Adelaide Football Club on February 19, 2019, to develop a sports and community complex at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre site.

Councillors discussed the Adelaide Football Club’s proposal at a confidential meeting earlier this week.

The community would have to be consulted about the details of any plan.

Adelaide City Council chief executive Mark Goldstone said today he looked forward to public consultation as more detailed information about the proposal “comes to light”.

“As our community’s needs remain paramount, council would want to see public access to community facilities and current tenants and users to be involved in the process if a concept is presented,” Mr Goldstone said.

“Beyond seeing a concept that benefits the community and maintains public access, I know that our members are adamant that all stakeholders would be regularly consulted if this proposal is to move forward.

“If any concept doesn’t line up with council’s draft guiding principles, members would have every right not to support the AFC progressing its plans, as the benefits to our community must come first.”

The Crows still train at West Lakes — where they have been based since their inception in 1990.

The Federal Government has pledged $15 million for the club to help a move to the city.