One man’s role in delaying start date of work on $5.3m revamp to clubrooms at Norwood Oval

WORK on a long-awaited $5.3 million revamp of Norwood Oval’s clubrooms has been delayed until at least the end of the footy season even though it was scheduled to be well underway by now. Here’s why:

An artist's impression of how the new Norwood Oval clubrooms would look from Woods St. Source: Supplied.

• Work set to start on $5.3 million Norwood Oval upgrade in early 2016
• Local council has endorses $5.8m plan for new clubrooms, facilities
• State RSL pulls out of shared Norwood Oval clubrooms project

NORWOOD, Payneham & St Peters Council says a resident’s complaint about its $2 million commitment to an upgrade of Norwood Oval is partly responsible for a delay in work starting.

Redevelopment of the council-owned oval was due to start early this year but will now begin after the completion of the football season in October.

The council last week said a complaint about the upgrade by Glynde resident Philip Groves had contributed to the delay.

Mr Groves asked for an internal review of NP & SP Council’s decision to double its commitment — to $2 million — towards the $5.3 million project, arguing ratepayers should have been consulted.

Unhappy with the review results, Mr Groves asked the State Ombudsman to intervene. His complaint was dismissed, but the council said the review process was partly responsible for the construction delay.

Mayor Robert Bria said the investigation process took about three months.

Mayor Robert Bria in front of Norwood Oval.

“Once there is a request … one of the requirements of the council is to determine whether it still supports its original decision, which we did unanimously,” Mr Bria said.

“The review of decision was in November and the information then went to Mr Groves and he wasn’t satisfied so he elevated it to a complaint to the Ombudsman so that has been one of the factors for the delay.

“From (the) council’s perspective there was no looking back in terms of the original decision.”

Mr Groves last week told the East Torrens Messenger the oval upgrade would not benefit the general public.

“The council increased the ratepayers’ contribution without so much as a beg your pardon,” Mr Groves said. “The fact of the matter is the upgrade is for members’ facilities and I don’t see how that benefits me.”

Under the plans, the Baulderstone Stand and part of the western stand will be demolished and replaced with a two-storey clubroom.

Norwood Football Club would spend $3.3 million on the project, offset by a $500,000 contribution from winemaker Wolf Blass.

The council is expected to consider final designs for the project within weeks.

The work is expected to take about 16-18 months.