Adelaide Crows reveal plans for training building on site of North Adelaide Aquatic Centre
The Adelaide Crows have revealed the first plans and images for a training centre and swimming pool, which the club wants to build to replace the current North Adelaide centre. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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The Adelaide Crows want to demolish the Aquatic Centre and build a new public swimming pool as part of its plan to move its headquarters to North Adelaide.
In front of a packed Adelaide City Council gallery on Tuesday night, the football club released its $65 million controversial masterplan for the training and administration complex.
The building, located within the existing footprint of the Aquatic Centre, would be no higher than two storeys and separated into three integrated sections – a new aquatic centre, community building and training and administration building.
The current football oval on Barton Tce West would be upgraded to AFL standard, with a surface similar to that of Adelaide Oval. Other ovals on the site would be retained and not fenced.
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said the club was offering a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.
He said if the plan was accepted by the council, the club wanted to partner with another organisation to deliver the best possible aquatic services.
He assured the public gallery the pool would remain open to the public.
“We are not professional swimmers, we are a football team, we will only use it on a casual basis,” Mr Fagan said.
An Adelaide Crows spokesman at the meeting said it would be a “centre for the community that celebrates the club”. There would be no permanent liquor licence at the proposed venue. Under the plan, the Crows would return 600sq m of land back to the parklands, plant about 100 trees to screen the new complex, bring safer access to O’Connell St and offer underground parking.
In June, Adelaide City Council gave the Crows permission to start designing concept plans for a training and administration complex at the council-owned Aquatic Centre.
Following about two hours of debate, the council agreed to put the concepts out for community consultation.
Over the past 10 years, the council has spent $18 million on the ageing centre.
A new report said up to $21 million more would need to be invested into the site to bring it up to scratch. However, it would do little to improve services or reduce its burden on ratepayers.
The Crows still needed to work on more “detailed plans” in line with the council’s guidelines for developing in the parklands.
Speaking on ABC Radio Adelaide, Mr Fagan said the club had been working since February on a masterplan for the new facility.
“We have taken them (the council) on the journey over the past ten months,” he said.
Mr Fagan said Wednesday night’s presentation to the council had provided an opportunity for the public to learn about what the Crows wanted to do at the Aquatic Centre site.
Describing it as a “compelling proposal”, he said it was a “win, win, win” for the club and wider community.
“The plan is to provide an upgraded amenity for the public as well to establish a new home for the Adelaide Football Club,” he said.
Mr Fagan said the Crows’ masterplan for the site included new swimming pools and a gymnasium available for public use.
“If you want to have a swim or have a child in a learn-to-swim to class or want to use the gym then nothing really changes except you have upgraded facilities,” he said.
There also would be an upgraded oval where the Crows would train in full view of fans rather than closed sessions at Adelaide Oval.
“If you are a fan of the club, you can come up on a Monday at lunchtime and watch the boys train or come and have a kick with your son on the oval on a Sunday,” he said.
Mr Fagan ruled out a licensed facility on the site such as the previous Crows Shed at West Lakes.
Instead, the club wanted to work with licensed premises on O’Connell St to provide entertainment for fans during home games.
“We see this as an opportunity to activate the parklands and link strongly to O’Connell Street,” he said.
“This is more a nine to five, 365 days a year football club, not a post-match facility. There are plenty of licensed venues in the area.
“We are open to discussions with them about the creation of events.”
Mr Fagan rejected suggestions the Crows were engaged in a “corporate takeover” of the parklands.
“We are a not-for-profit organisation, referring to us as a corporation would be inappropriate, he said.
Mr Fagan said it was not unusual for large sporting organisations such as AFL clubs to become involved in providing community facilities.
“This all started when it became clear the council had issues with the existing Aquatic Centre with the cost of an upgrade and improvements.
“We were exploring locations for new locations around Adelaide.
“There are plenty of examples around the country where sports clubs work with community organisations to provide community facilities.
“This will replace the existing aquatic centre by building a new aquatic centre on the same footprint.”
Mr Fagan said the Adelaide Football Club welcomed the opportunity to brief the Adelaide City Council elected members about their masterplan.
“This is just one step forward but a particularly important one because it provides the opportunity to talk about the proposal,” he said.
Mr Fagan said the cost of the project had not been determined as designs were not finalised and a business model needed to be worked out with Adelaide City Council.
Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association president Shane Sody said the centre and Parklands should be retained for public access.