Plea for millions to fix dilapidated grandstand at Goodwood Oval
A LARGE suburban grandstand described as one of the poorest in Adelaide is in urgent need of a multimillion-dollar overhaul, the ground’s tenants say.
GOODWOOD Oval’s grandstand is “one of the poorest in Adelaide” and is in urgent need of a multimillion-dollar overhaul, the ground’s tenants say.
The presidents of Goodwood Saints Football Club and Goodwood Cricket Club have told the CoastCity Weekly the 1960s-built grandstand is not “socially acceptable” and cannot accommodate growing numbers of female and junior players.
They have urged Unley Council to abandon plans for minor upgrades to the stand and focus instead on securing up to $4 million to fund a complete rebuild.
Goodwood Saints president Craig Scott said the council-owned grandstand did not meet modern design standards or community expectations.
“That was highlighted a few weeks ago when a visitor complained about a smell of urine and we didn’t even notice because we are so used to it,” Mr Scott said.
“We do not have female change rooms and I would be pretty confident that an engineer’s report would show there are some structural issues with the building.”
Mr Scott said a new two-storey building – including female changerooms and a committee room – would allow the Saints to properly accommodate the more than 1500 people involved with the club.
The cricket club’s president, Jason Scroop, said the “massive explosion” in junior and female participation had highlighted problems with the ageing grandstand.
“The facility, to be honest, is not socially acceptable,” Mr Scroop said. “We need a facility for not just this generation, but the next.”
Unley Council in December voted to draw up plans to refit an “outdated” Goodwood Oval grandstand to include female changerooms, new showers and toilets.
The council applied for a $250,000 State Government grant to fund the refurbishment – but was last month notified it had been unsuccessful.
Unley chief executive Peter Tsokas said while the council would “like to see more significant upgrades in the future”, it was focused on the changeroom upgrade.
He also planned to approach “all political parties” for funding commitments before the election.
