Norwood Oval to receive new grandstand, a function room and bar as part of a $5.4 million upgrade

A $5 MILLION upgrade of Norwood Oval, including a new grandstand and a function room, will begin next year.

Bruce and Sue McAuliffe, of Findon, at The Parade last week. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

WORK on a $5.4 million upgrade of Norwood Oval is expected to start in the new year.

The state’s Development Assessment Commission last week approved plans to replace the Baulderstone Stand, on the western side of the oval, with a new grandstand, function room and bar.

Change rooms, administration offices and toilets in the Sir Edwin T Smith Stand will be redeveloped as a part of the upgrade.

Norwood Football Club president Paul Di Iulio expected work to start as soon as possible.

“Norwood has for far too long been without its spiritual home,” Mr Di Iulio said.

“There is no doubt this new facility will serve the football club for many years to come and be a great community asset for all to use. It won’t be long before we once again have a facility to call our home.”

Mr Di Iulio expected the upgrade to be finished by the start of the 2018 season, but could not confirm a specific start date for work.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council has contributed $2 million to the project, while the club will pay $3.1 million – $2 million of which has come from the sale of AAMI Stadium.

The club has raised $1.1 million through crowd funding, which allowed supporters to buy a picket of the fence around the oval.

Sue McAuliffe, who has supported the club for almost 50 years, welcomed the news.

“We were very disappointed when the old clubrooms were sold in 2009 as we loved going there for a meal before and after games,” Mrs McAuliffe, of Findon, said.

“We lost our home during that move and this new facility will help bring that back.

“It is going to be great for the club to regain its heart and soul with these upgrades.”

Mayor Robert Bria was glad work could get started.

“This development has been talked about for many years and with this approval it will finally mean all these words can be put into action on the ground,” Mr Bria said.

“Both the club and the council are keen to get work started on the demolition of the Baulderstone Stand as soon as possible.”

Last month, the commission asked the council to provide more information on parking, traffic management and the opening hours of function rooms at the oval.

The upgrade was meant to begin in April but was delayed after Glynde resident Philip Groves lodged a complaint with the council about its $2 million contribution to the project, arguing residents should have been consulted.

The state Ombudsman threw out Mr Groves’ complaint, upholding the findings of an internal council review which found the spending was justified.