Water Polo SA backs Adelaide Crows’ Aquatic Centre proposal
Another sporting organisation has thrown its support behind the Adelaide Crows’ proposal to demolish and rebuild the Aquatic Centre.
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The state’s peak water polo body has thrown its support behind Adelaide Football Club’s proposal to demolish the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and build its new headquarters at the site.
Water Polo SA president Peter Cleary has said his sport would benefit from the Crows building a new $65 million training and administration complex at North Adelaide.
He said 81 per cent of its members were based in the northeastern suburbs.
“It is crucial that a viable facility remains for the future of the sport in South Australia,” Mr Cleary said.
“While our desire for a dedicated water polo pool (as is current) is preferred, at a minimum our requirement is for a 50m x 25m pool at a suitable depth that would enable two fields of play for competitions.
“The latest Crows plans released last month were welcomed by Water Polo SA because they included an eight-lane, 50m Olympic pool which would not only support us, but a much larger number of current Aquatic Centre user groups.”
Mr Cleary urged the council to press ahead to the proposal’s second stage.
“This would enable further detailed dialogue between all key stakeholders to ensure that the pool facility within the hub can be designed to accommodate most aquatic activities including water polo,” he said.
The Crows’ proposed new facility would house the club’s administrative headquarters and a community centre and pool for public use.
In January, Diving SA said it would back the plan on the proviso it had a diving board and would guarantee its return to the centre.
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In December, Norwood Swimming Club, one of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre’s biggest tenants, supported the redevelopment provided the facilities were better and the club would have guaranteed access to the pool.
Adelaide Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said the club wanted to make the parklands more accessible to more people by building a modern aquatic centre that was for community use.
“There is a passionate water polo community and having met with representatives from the State association, I know they want a new facility that better caters for their requirements,” Mr Fagan said.
Adelaide City Council’s consultation process on the proposal ends on March 11.