Inside story — the battle for the North Adelaide aquatic centre
It is the proposal that has become just as controversial as the old Le Cornu site – the Crows’ plan for a HQ at the Aquatic Centre. But what, exactly, is proposed? And who’s got the final say?
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- Crows’ Aquatic Centre HQ proposal put under the microscope at community meeting
- David Penberthy: Council sending itself broke running old centre
A little birdie has flown into North Adelaide and it wants to move its nest from West Lakes to the site of a tired, old aquatic centre.
However, there is another flock of birds determined to chase the birdie out of the park.
The birdie, who some would argue is not that little, is the Adelaide Football Club.
It wants to build a $65m training and administration complex at the site of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the Parklands.
It has promised a children’s pool, an Olympic-size pool, unfenced ovals, hydrotherapy and learn-to-swim areas.
However, the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association vehemently opposes the proposal and is doing everything in its power to prevent it.
Adelaide City Council is consulting the community about the Crows’ preliminary, informal proposal.
It is basically asking people what they think of six pretty pictures.
There is also a second type of community consultation – a needs-analysis – about what a new aquatic centre should incorporate.
That could be considered the more important of the two.
“The needs-analysis is pretty straightforward,” Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said.
“It has questions like do we need hydro or a swimming school? We want to hear what everyone wants.
“We need to get a really good understanding from users of the Aquatic Centre and what potential users of an aquatic centre would like to see.
“So, really, we have two separate (consultation) processes happening at the same time and there may be a point in the future where the two come together, but we are not there yet.”
In April, the council is expected to look at the outcomes of the needs-analysis and decide whether it should hand results over to the Crows, which would allow the club to start creating formal plans.
Each year it costs the council $700,000 to operate the Aquatic Centre, which was converted into an indoor pool in 1985.
It is a black hole for ratepayers, with $21 million needed to repair the centre – an investment that won’t deliver substantially more services.
Major work would be needed to fix the dive pool, 50m pool boom, eastern grandstand, spa, sauna, steam room and change rooms.
Ms Verschoor reiterated the Parklands are not, and never have been, up for sale. The Crows’ proposal is not a done deal and the council would always remain the landlord of the site.
“And we can withdraw from the process at any time,” she said.
Some groups, including the council’s peak Parklands advisory board, have been unsure about whether a commercial body should operate in the Parklands.
Much of the opposition has stemmed from the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association – a group determined to stop any sort of development on the Parklands that the public cannot access.
Over the years, it has opposed the Formula One Grand Prix, the V8s, hospitals, sporting facilities, parking for the Royal Adelaide Show, Adelaide Oval, lights at Adelaide Oval, tennis, horse racing, the Fringe and Womadelaide.
At a Park Lands Preservation Association debate earlier this week, members were seen handing out material telling people what they should write to the council in response to its consultation.
In December, the group called for volunteers who “can create eye-catching memes to help (its) campaign to keep Park 2 (the Aquatic Centre site) for the public”.
The group’s president Shane Sody said the Parklands had never been “so under attack”, despite corporate bodies, including SACA and Adelaide University, building on the city’s green belt.
“If you have been robbed 200 times, should you not complain when you are robbed for the 201st time, especially when that robbery is bigger than the ones before” Mr Sody said.
“Two hundred wrongs does not make the 201st one right.
“There are a lot of Parklands alienations, so does that mean we should just shut up and stop complaining … and then get over it? No.”
Crows’ chief executive Andrew Fagan has maintained the new buildings would return space to the Parklands.
He told The Advertiser back in December the club’s plan to demolish and rebuild the Aquatic Centre was a “once in a generation opportunity”.
Mr Fagan said the club would take all feedback on board, should it be told to progress with formal plans.
He said some people appeared to be confused about the consultation process and how the Crows would have to use results from the needs analysis to determine its final plans.
“There are probably some opponents of the project who are trying to take advantage of some of that lack of clarity to paint a picture that is very different to what has been spoken about or proposed,” Mr Fagan said.
“We want to ensure … that the end result is something that we have said from the begging – something that is a win-win for the community, council and football club.”
Local Government and Planning Minister Stephan Knoll urged people to have their say on the project.
“Ultimately this is a decision for the Adelaide City Council, who are very much in control of this process as the Aquatic Centre is their asset,” Mr Knoll said.
“Adelaide’s Parklands are such an important part of our city’s character and liveability, and any development needs to ensure they are preserved.
“Community consultation is ongoing and is a critical part of this process, so we are encouraging people to get involved and have their say.”
A community forum with federal Labor MP for Adelaide Steve Georganas and state MP for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson is on tomorrow at the North Adelaide Community Centre, Tynte St, from noon-1.30pm.
RSVP to steve.georganas.mp@aph.gov.au or adelaide@parliament.sa.gov.au.
The road to (potential) approval
1. Consultation on AFC’s Proposal and Aquatic Centre Needs Analysis closes on March 11.
2. A report with findings about the Needs Analysis is presented to APLA – the peak advisory body for the parklands - then the council for consideration.
3. The council decides whether it should provide the Need Analysis feedback to AFC.
4. AFC prepares formal plans and a detailed proposal for the council.
5. Council staff review plans and make a recommendation to APLA and elected members about whether plans should be put out to further consultation.
6. Concurrently, staff look at how the plan fits in with parklands rules, laws and strategies. If any changes are made to the rules, the council must consult the community on them.
7. All consultation is brought back to APLA and then the council for consideration.
8. Should the process continue, staff would prepare another report to APLA and the council about moving towards contractual negotiations.
8) If AFC intends to lease the building for more than 10 years, the final arrangement would be laid before both Houses of Parliament for approval before any deal is finalised.
9) An application would also need to be lodged with the State Commission and Assessment Panel at some stage during this entire process.
10) Council remains the landlord of the facility.
Both the council and AFC can withdrawal from the process at any time.