Advertiser online poll finds two-thirds in favour of Adelaide Crows’ plans for new headquarters on Aquatic Centre site
We polled our readers on the Adelaide Crows’ newly released plans to transform the Aquatic Centre site – and the results are clear. JOIN THE DEBATE AND VOTE NOW
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The Crows’ proposal to demolish the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and build a new public swimming pool while moving the club’s headquarters to North Adelaide has divided opinion – but a poll indicates a clear majority are in favour.
Respondents to The Advertiser poll on Wednesday strongly supported the move and many readers posted comments backing the plan and describing it as a win for the community.
However, some remain vehemently opposed to the plan, in particular because it involves development in the parklands.
The Crows want to separate the site into three integrated sections – a new aquatic centre, community building and training and administration building – located within the Aquatic Centre’s existing footprint.
Community consultation will help determine which facilities and services will be retained or added, but it is likely to include an area for recreational swimming, a learn-to-swim area, hydrotherapy and gymnasium.
The proposed plans also include returning about 600sq m of land back to the parklands and planting about 100 trees to screen the new complex.
After receiving more than 2300 responses by 3pm, a poll on Advertiser.com.au was tracking at 66 per cent in favour, 27 per cent opposed and 7 per cent either unsure or wanting more options. Those percentages had remained consistent since the poll was first published.
The $65 million plan was released on Tuesday evening in front of a packed Adelaide City Council gallery.
At the Aquatic Centre on Wednesday morning, Sean Beaton, 65, of Erindale, said he believed the plan would result in a positive outcome for the community.
“My understanding is it will be a shared facility and they’re going to upgrade it so I think it will be a win,” he said.
Belinda Piscino, 36, of Prospect, also said the plan could be good for the area.
“(The Aquatic Centre) is always a little bit under threat because it just costs so much to keep it going, but it is a well-used facility, so many schools use it and the general public,” she said.
“In one way, it would be good because it would stay open but in another way it will be compromised so it depends on the details.”
But Christina Crosby, 67, of Walkerville, said she felt “gutted” and losing the centre would be a “betrayal of the community”.
“We don’t want the bloody Crows having this,” she said.
“It is so important to keep public land because once it’s gone, we have nothing.”
Dereen Marsh, 77, of Collinswood, agreed.
“I think it’s a service to a lot of low-income people and children come here also to swim,” she said. “I don’t believe in building on the parklands at all. It’s the principle of it – it’s the parklands.”
The Crows’ complex would be about 5m shorter than the current Aquatic Centre, which would take about $21 million to fix.
The current football oval on Barton Tce West would also be upgraded to AFL standard while other ovals at the site would be retained and not fenced.
After the meeting, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said she remained “open-minded” about the proposal, calling it a “small step forward” for the community.
“They have paid good attention to the guiding principles (to develop the site) and what I am interested now is to go out to community consultation and get that community input,” Ms Verschoor said.
“Part of what we need to do now is find out what services do people actually want in their contemporary sporting facility, which will help inform size of the pools and the number of pools.”
The Crows plan to approach the State Government, AFL and council for grants to fund the development, on top of the $15 million grant it received from the Federal Government.
Discussions will start when there are more detailed concepts
The Crows have a lease on their West Lakes home until 2048, but that could be sold to fund the development.
Mr Fagan told The Advertiser this morning that public reaction to the draft proposal had been positive.
He said the club has no “Plan B” location should the council knock back the proposal.
“The feedback I have received in the last 12 hours is that compared to the existing facility, it is contemporary, appropriate and aesthetically pleasing,” Mr Fagan said.
He said there would be no liquor licence at the venue, and any post-match functions would be held at O’Connell St venues.
The Archer venue manager Katie Lawrence said using those venues would be a “good stimulus” for the precinct.
“We have a massive function area so we can definitely cater for large groups,” Ms Lawrence said.
Jon Billows wrote on The Advertiser’s Facebook page that the parklands would not be sold, as many people feared.
“It’s a lease like anywhere else. And if they want to build new facilities that the whole community can use rather than the dump that currently exists, why shouldn’t they?” he wrote
Ben Purshe wrote on The Advertiser’s Facebook page that it would be “an absolute disgrace” if it went ahead.
“Parklands are not for sale to highest bidder or to whoever leveraged finances to get what they want,” he wrote.
James posted a comment on Advertiser.com.au, saying the negative reaction to the plans was “typical old money North Adelaide elitists whingeing about ‘their parklands’ being taken away from them by a football club who brings so much entertainment to the community ... how about you old biddies shut up and give back something to the community.”
Neilc wrote: Move aside Old Adelaide – you’ve had your turn.”
New images of the complex are expected to be released to members today.
