State Planning Commission releases detailed Adelaide Oval hotel plans

Parkland protectors say the Adelaide Oval hotel can be legally challenged, but the Lord Mayor isn’t so sure. SEE THE NEWLY RELEASED PLANS HERE

• Boutique hotel proposed for Adelaide Oval
• Plans for Oval hotel ‘blocked’ to the public
• Oval hotel given development planning approval

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor says it is unlikely the council will be able to launch any successful challenge against the proposed Adelaide Oval hotel.

This is despite parkland protectors saying the council could have two avenues to pursue in the courts against the controversial project — a claim quickly dismissed by the Stadium Management Authority.

Ms Verschoor’s council has received thorough legal advice regarding the proposal and is getting more following a unanimous decision by councillors to oppose it.

Ms Verschoor said the council was instead now focusing on its response to an upcoming parliamentary inquiry into the project and the financial performance of the Oval and SMA.

“The legal advice we have got at this point has not given us anything that could preclude the development,” she told The Advertiser.

See the detailed plans below — click the arrow in the top right-hand corner to expand it

The Oval’s Stadium Management Authority said any potential legal issues were addressed during due diligence for the $42 million boutique hotel that will wrap around its eastern grandstand.

“The Adelaide Oval Hotel is being developed in accordance with all relevant laws,” A SMA spokesman said.

“The due diligence undertaken in assessing the proposal clarified all legal issues.”

It was in response the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association seeking to land another blow on the SMA and the State Government, who are providing the $42 million loan, over the proposal.

After being able to view detailed plans of the proposal, made public following a report by The Advertiser, Association president Shane Sody said there were two doubts surrounding the project’s legality.

He said they were section four of the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment Act that says Oval uses other than sport are permitted only “on an ancillary or temporary basis from time to time” and the constitution of the SMA which makes no mentions of running hotels outside of its “objects” of developing and promoting cricket and football.

But despite this Mr Sody flagged his preference for the council to lead any legal challenge.

An artist impression of the proposed Adelaide Oval hotel.

He said they were section four of the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment Act that says Oval uses other than sport are permitted only “on an ancillary or temporary basis from time to time” and the constitution of the SMA which makes no mentions of running hotels outside of its “objects” of developing and promoting cricket and football.

But despite this Mr Sody flagged his preference for the council to lead any legal challenge.

“A lot of our supporters have are asking us if we are going to take legal action,” he said.

SMA chief executive Andrew Daniels said they were getting on with the job of delivering the project.

“Anyone looking at the detailed drawings can see that, as we’ve consistently said, the development is entirely contained within the Adelaide Oval area and doesn’t impact the parklands or the existing plaza,” he said.

“We’re now working on the tender process to select a builder to ensure we remain on track to start construction in the middle of this year.”

A proposed “wayfinding” area at the new hotel.

Proposed new entry at the new development.

TOP: The existing B2 level entry and below, the proposed new entry.