What new $10m city sports ground would look like: Burnside and Adelaide hockey clubs want to redevelop Park 17
TWO full-sized synthetic pitches would be built in the south Parklands under a $10 million plan that would end one sporting club’s long search for a home — here’s how it could look. But not everyone’s happy.
TWO full-sized hockey pitches would be built in the south Parklands under a $10 million plan that would end one local club’s long search for a home.
Adelaide City Council is investigating a proposal from Burnside and Adelaide hockey clubs to redevelop Park 17, near the Greenhill Rd/Fullarton Rd intersection.
The plan includes international-standard synthetic pitches on each side of a two-storey clubhouse, with ground-floor changerooms and an upper-level canteen and viewing deck.
The clubs say the venue could be ready as soon as next year and will address a lack of hockey pitches in the region, attract new players and help draw major tournaments to SA — such as the Commonwealth Games.
And it would finally give Burnside Hockey Club a place to call its own after more than a decade of failed attempts to find a home ground.
“There are a lot of people that live in the area that aren’t playing … or have to be prepared to travel for games every week,” Burnside president Steve Shearer said last week.
“Over time it is difficult to maintain the social fabric of the club because what we have is a collection of teams, rather than a club.
“This will solve that problem.”
Burnside has been searching for a home base since demolishing its white-ant infested headquarters at Kensington Gardens Reserve in 2005.
In 2010, Burnside Council committed $1 million for a new synthetic pitch, with Ford Oval, on The Parade, identified as the preferred site.
But the council abandoned that idea amid strong opposition from Kensington District Cricket Club and Burnside Rugby Club, which faced forced relocation under the plan.
A $1.4 million plan to move to Magill’s UniSA campus also fell through, leaving the Bulldogs to use Gepps Cross and Prince Alfred College for training and games, and the Hackney Hotel for social functions.
Mr Shearer last week said the club had been investigating a possible site in the northeastern Parklands when Adelaide City Council suggested co-locating with Adelaide Hockey Club, which was keen on a move from the Greenhill Rd complex it shared with Pulteney Grammar and Tennis Seniors SA.
“We got very serious in mid-2015 and formed a joint committee to start developing this proposal,” he said.
“This is actually quite historic to have two staunch opponents on the hockey field acting in a way that is mature and responsible.”
Adelaide president Anne Collins said the club was “at capacity” and a new home at Park 17 would allow it to grow.
Burnside has about 300 players, while Adelaide Hockey Club has more than 400 members.
Mr Shearer expected the project to cost “in the ballpark of $10 million” and would need state and federal government funding, as well as contributions from the clubs.
He said the Park 17 venue could be used for international tournaments, and as a training venue should Adelaide host the Commonwealth Games in the future.
It would also be used by local schools, including Pembroke School — which leases Park 17 for its soccer, cricket and touch rugby teams.
Pembroke’s acting principal, Kym Lawry, said the school supported the plan and would consider contributing money to the project.
The Federal Government had committed $400,000 to help find the club a new home.
Sturt federal Liberal MP Christopher Pyne “strongly supported” the new plans.
Adelaide City Council’s community and culture associate director, Sean McNamara, said the project was still in a “feasibility stage” and the council had “made no commitment beyond initial community engagement”.
A report on public feedback could be presented to the Adelaide Park Lands Authority — which oversees development in the city’s greenbelt — in July.
The council had not been asked to help fund the project, Mr McNamara said.
Consultation on the plan is open until April 26 at yoursay.cityofadelaide.com.au
Historic link
THE first game of women’s hockey in Australia was played at Park 17 in 1901, according to Adelaide City Council.
The Advertiser reported on a women’s hockey match in August that year, when “eleven dainty young Atalantas” from North Adelaide faced a team of “fleet-footed young maidens” from Glenelg.
The report describes players dressed in “very pretty white blouses and Cambridge blue Tam-o’-Shanters” and recounts the heroics of a “petit, golden-haired lassie from North Adelaide, who made a brilliant run with the ball and landed it unaided in the enemy’s stronghold”.
The southeastern Parklands were home to the old men’s Sturt Hockey Club, and Aroha Women’s Hockey Club.
Here’s who doesn’t want it
MORE than 900 touch rugby players face being tossed from Park 17 under plans to transform the playing fields into a $10 million hockey hub.
Touch Football SA is based in the south Parklands and hosts year-round social competitions, school tournaments and state team training sessions on the grounds earmarked for two new synthetic hockey pitches.
Touch SA’s competitions and events co-ordinator, Renee Bryant, said she understood the sport would be forced to move if the hockey hub proposal went ahead.
“We would very much like to stay,” Mrs Bryant said.
“It is the perfect location for us because it is close to the city and to local schools.
“There are no physical barriers (at Park 17) and there are no car parking issues here as well.”
Mrs Bryant said officials from Touch Football Australia would in the coming weeks meet with Pembroke School — which subleases Park 17 to Touch SA — to discuss its future.
About 90 social teams play in weeknight Touch SA competitions throughout the year.
Adelaide City Council community and culture associate director Sean McNamara last week would not be drawn on Touch SA’s future at Park 17, saying only that the council was committed to “increasing participation in formal and informal recreation and sport activities” in the Parklands.
Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association vice-president Damien Mugavin said the hockey plan was “totally unfair” on Touch SA and other park users.
Mr Mugavin said the association would make a submission to Adelaide City Council opposing the plan.
“They are stealing the Parklands for themselves … the public will not be able to use it,” Mr Mugavin said.
“SA hockey already have an arena at (The Pines) Gepps Cross — if they want to hold events, they should have it there.”
Burnside Hockey Club president Steve Shearer was confident the proposal would have public support.
Mr Shearer said the hockey pitches would be suitable for other sports, such as lacrosse and futsal.
“There will be some people that do not like it because they do not like anything,” Mr Shearer said.
“Parklands are very important, (and) it is important they are used.”