Golden Wattle Park earmarked for redevelopment for Adelaide’s south parklands
It is a bleak part of the Adelaide Parklands known for being the site of Royal Show parking, but Golden Wattle Park is now set for a huge, multi-million renewal to bring it up to scratch. SEE THE PLANS.
City
Don't miss out on the headlines from City. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- South parklands area proposed to turn into a community sporting hub
- The Advertiser +Rewards – latest giveaways, special offers and competitions for digital subscribers
A bleak area of the Adelaide Parklands – used for Royal Adelaide Show parking – has taken a step towards a multimillion-dollar makeover.
Adelaide City Council on Tuesday night approved early concept designs and the Community Land Management Plan for Golden Wattle Park, on the corner of South Terrace and Goodwood Road.
The proposed 465sq m complex, expected to cost more than $5 million, would include a two-level community sports pavilion and multipurpose sports fields accommodating football, cricket, soccer, ultimate frisbee fields.
The current, rundown clubroom is the home of the Adelaide Luthern Sports Club and is subleased to a number of other parties.
The club’s president Tim Stollznow said the plans were a “long time coming” and looked forward to a “remarkable” new home for its 550-strong members.
The upgrade, which is currently unfunded, would allow the club to boost its membership numbers.
“If all this happens it would be fantastic for that part of the parklands,” Mr Stollznow said.
“There is such a shortage of junior and women’s facilities … so this will be magnificent for the area.”
The club would have to source external funding for the project.
“We are hopeful that sooner, rather than later, the Federal, together with the State Government, will say ‘it’s your turn for an upgrade’ because it would be massively beneficial for this part of Adelaide,” Mr Stollznow said.
Under the plan, there would also be recreation spaces incorporating nature play, irrigated turf, seating, at least 112 parking spaces, picnic facilities, a re-established wattle grove, shade, interpretative signage and a realigned parklands trail.
The trail would link up with the facilities on the on neighbouring Park 22.
The South West City Community Association objected to permanent parking at the park and feared the wider public would be isolated from the site.
“Unless our community members joined the sporting clubs involved, they would not have access to the new club room building on the park and generally they felt excluded from the playing field area,” the South West City Community Association wrote in response to consultation.
The group was contacted for comment.
Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the development would benefit the wider community.
“The proposal would also see more trees planted as well as the return of the historic Wattle Grove plantation, which was first planted in 1915, and is believed to have been Australia’s earliest memorial to the Gallipoli landing,” she said.
MORE NEWS: