Push for multi-use stadium in Adelaide CBD could derail city council’s plan for PGA-standard golf course

Adelaide City Council’s plan for a PGA-standard golf course could be in conflict with an increasingly strong push for a multipurpose sports stadium at Memorial Drive.

An Advertiser artist impression of a second stadium next to Adelaide Oval.

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Adelaide City Council’s plan for a PGA-standard golf course could be in conflict with an increasingly strong push for a multipurpose sports stadium at Memorial Drive.

Councillors will on Tuesday vote on whether to make an extract of its North Adelaide ‘Golf Course Master Plan’ concept document public, in the wake of increased speculation around a new multi-use stadium at the southern end of the public course on parklands.

Despite councillors and the Adelaide Park Lands Authority being briefed on the masterplan, it has been kept under confidentiality orders.

However The Advertiser revealed key findings of the masterplan, including developments worth at least $20 million, in September.

They include:

UPGRADING the course to international standard, resulting in major reconfigurations;

RELOCATING the clubhouse from near Strangeways Tce, where War Memorial Drive and Montefiore Rd meet, to be closer to the Adelaide Oval precinct;

ESTABLISHING a multimillion-dollar function centre as part of the new clubhouse;

THE council finding new management of the course.

Adelaide Oval as seen from the air. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The location where the masterplan suggests moving the clubhouse to, in order to capitalise on the Riverbank location and oval complex, is the same as the location being examined for a potential new stadium.

Cr Phil Martin, who has put the proposal before council, said the public needed to know just what was at stake.

“This is the opportunity for Adelaide to get a golf facility that is of international standard and can attract international tournaments to the city,” he said.

“People should be able to look at what is being proposed.

Cr Martin also said there were other locations in the city for a potential multipurpose stadium without having to build on parklands.

“We are a city in the park, the only city in the park,” he said.

“I don’t know if anyone would be proud of being a city surrounded by sports stadiums.

“The parklands are there for people to enjoy and that does involve the playing of sport but playing sport and creating multistorey structures are completely different things.

“I fear that it is open season on the parklands.”

It comes as the state’s greatest tennis player joined the chorus of calls for a new or redeveloped multipurpose sports stadium at Memorial Drive, saying it would allow Adelaide to reclaim its place on the rich international tennis circuit.

Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt told the Sunday Mail that Adelaide needs a multipurpose stadium.

“I love Memorial Drive but whether it’s a multipurpose retractable roof, whatever it may be, something basketball, netball, everything can play in, it would be great for the city,” Hewitt said.

“We are fortunate we have the area that’s so close to the city to be able to make a tennis centre. We don’t have to go and do it somewhere else.”

Other sites being mooted include an area immediately south of the River Torrens, stretching over the Adelaide Railyards.

The Advertiser last week revealed Adelaide would miss out if Australia successfully bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup because there was not a suitable stadium available.

It’s one or the other

NEW STADIUM

Being pushed by the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, which operates the Entertainment Centre, Convention Centre and Hindmarsh Stadium.

It would be an arena that could host soccer, rugby league, tennis, basketball and concerts.

A business case has been prepared and land at the southern end of the North Adelaide Golf Course has been examined as a potential location.

There is also talk of it being at the city railyards.

UPGRADED NORTH ADELAIDE GOLF COURSE

A masterplan prepared by consultants GHD Woodhead for Adelaide City Council is under a confidentiality order. But The Advertiser revealed in September it involves upgrading the course to international standard, and relocating the clubhouse from its current location near Strangways Tce to where War Memorial Drive and Montefiore Rd meet. A multimillion-dollar function centre would also be built as part of the new clubhouse.